Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. PHOTO: AFP /FILE
He remarked that these people create problems in society by creating enmity among the general public. No compromises should be made in stopping these troublemakers, he added.
The premier said that “terrorism, poverty and illiteracy are not related to religion and attacks on places of worship are not associated with religion as well."
Nawaz also stated that he was happy to be present among the Christian community and wished them Merry Christmas.
Talking about Jesus Christ, the premier said that Islam teaches Muslims to believe in the prophethood of Jesus Christ. He also added that the teachings of Jesus are a guiding light for the whole of humanity.
"The message of Jesus Christ is acknowledged all over the world and his name will remain alive till the Day of Judgment," he further stated.
Nawaz also added that “all religions promote peace and one’s faith is not complete without acknowledgement of the divine books.”
While referring to the Constitution of Pakistan and the vision of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Nawaz remarked that human rights are the privilege of every citizen irrespective of religion.
He also commented about the Youth Business Loan Scheme during his speech stating that all religions should participate in this scheme and benefit from it. Rs100 billion have been set aside for the programme.
COMMENTS (8)
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May God bless Pakistan with peace and prosperity.
Mr Nawaz Sharif has always shown tolerance for other faiths and supported inter-faith dialogue for peace & harmony in the country. For the first time in the history of Pakistan, a Christian MNA (Kamran Michael) has been made Minister for Ports & Shipping in the country. Earlier the only ministry meant for the minorities used to be the Ministry of Religious Affairs, a less important slot. Another credit goes to PMLN for making Mr Michael as the Minister for Finance in the previous cabinet of Punjab. This was also for the first-ever time in the history of Pakistan that someone from minorities was given the most-important portfolio in a provincial cabinet. Our holy prayers for peace & prosperity of Pakistan!
@unbelievable:
You are spot-on . The main cause for the terrible persecution of minorities is the deluded criminal and inhuman attitude of the governments over decades . Their settled policy is to appease the militant religious factions : they never apprehend or prosecute such elements . The governments , after every mayhem of minorties , performs a ritual of proclaiming the freedom of religion granted by Islam to all , and affirming their determination of bringing the offenders to book . Then come some fake arrests and finally the whole episode is forgotten . No one is punished , affirming again and again that persecuting or murdering minorities is no crime in Pakistan . The Christian communities have been slaughtered and uprooted from their homes many a time . Was anyone ever punished ? The speech of the PM , to put it politely , is an act of hypocrisy .
How can there by interfaith unity when one accepts God as only one, the other accepts God in three? Don't get me wrong and label my extremist. But unity means - An undivided or unbroken completeness or totality with nothing wanting. We are not complete with this unity, no Muslim will go to a Church to pray or the other way around. What we need is not unity but JUSTICE give to the minorities. One more thing that also needs to be taught is tolerance towards innocent minorities. I still remember those days when Fast food restaurants were burned down in Karachi in the name of Islam. Which was actually complete opposite of what Islam teaches us.
it does seem our PM is serious about message if he is I would request PM to remove hate clauses from constitution.
Nawaz Sharif's message of interfaith unity has come 66years too late, it should have come prior to 14th. August 1947. Between Muslims and Hindus. Millions of innocent lives would have been spared.
Nice politically correct message - however his policy of avoiding confrontation with the religious extremist makes it clear that it's just words.