‘No insecurity on account of religion’

‘State should encourage participation of minorities in society’.

LAHORE: “Peaceful coexistence can be ensured by providing equal opportunities to all members of the society,” Leads University Vice Chancellor Munawar Sultana Mirza said on Sunday.

She was addressing a day-long forum arranged by Hindu Sudhar Sabha at the Leads University campus in collaboration with Global Human Rights Defence and Friends of Humanity.

Mirza said religions should be taught at school so that students could understand the various communities in the society around them.

“We must seek to understand everyone in our society,” Mirza said. She said all citizens should be equal before law. She said minority citizens should be provided support and equal opportunities.

Ashok Kumar from the Punjab University, Islamic scholar Shabbir Mansoori, peace activist Muhsen Ali and Leads English Department head Shehzad Farooqi also addressed the event.

Referring to religious scriptures, Mansoori said all communities were guaranteed protection in an Islamic state. He said Muslims had a responsibility to protect people practicing other religions among them. Kumar urged the youth to play an active role fir peace in the society.

“No one in Pakistan should feel insecure on account of their religion,” Kumar said.

“People from different faiths can come together to achieve peace, welfare and protection of humanity,” he said. Ali said, “We, as a nation, cannot afford more religious strife.”

He said students were a nation’s asset. He said they should work to bring positive change.

Students at the forum shared their opinions and asked questions on peace building.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 7^th, 2013.