Photo file of Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
In the aftermath of an unprecedented sectarian violence outbreak, Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf urged leaders of all faiths and religions to stand united and preach the message of love and peace across the country.
On Wednesday, addressing a conference organised by the Ministry of National Harmony aimed at creating greater understanding among people of different faiths, the prime minister stressed the dire need for inter-faith harmony in the country.
The premier’s message comes just days after a targeted attack on the Shia Hazaras killed more than 80 people and injured scores of others in Quetta.
Referring to the Quetta carnage, he said, “Let’s come out of this perpetual sense of fear that haunts us all, and where no place is safe anymore.”
He referred to the Hazaras as brothers and patriotic Pakistanis and said the entire nation was deeply saddened over the plight of the Shias.
“There can be no justification for the murder of the innocent. Who can justify the killing of a child, woman or a man who is trying to earn a living?” he asked rhetorically.
Prime Minister Ashraf said no one should take the law into their own hands as it created lawlessness and chaos in society. “It is the responsibility of the government to ensure law and order and also the obligation of every citizen to abide by the law and clearly understand his responsibilities and obligations.”
The Pakistan Peoples Party leader said no person had the right to impose their will on others. “Let everyone follow whatever he wishes and if there is a conflict, then they should follow the path of dialogue.”
After the attack, the Hazaras had staged a four-day sit-in in protest over the suicide blast on February 16 on Kirani road.
Ashraf said respect and dignity for each other was vital for peaceful co-existence. He said societies as a whole have always purported support to ideologies that preach peace and harmony. However, he said if it is not followed, there will be a state of anarchy.
He said it was the obligation of religious leaders to spread the message of peace and an interfaith conference was a much-needed event to deliberate on this challenge for the country.
Meanwhile, Minister for National Harmony Paul Bhatti said the conference was aimed at creating a conducive environment for such dialogue.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 21st, 2013.
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