Youhanabad follow-up: ‘Worship places should promote coexistence’

Shahbaz seeks united effort to discourage intolerance and violent behaviour .

LAHORE:

Worship places of all religious communities in the country should send out a message of peaceful coexistence, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Wednesday.

He was speaking to a delegation of church leaders from across the city.

He called for a united effort to discourage intolerance and violent behaviour in the society. He said such behaviour was not permissible in any religion. “Jesus Christ told us to be patient and tolerant. He worked for promotion of peace,” he said.



Sharif condoled with the delegation over the loss of life in the twin blasts in Youhanabad. He also deplored the killing of two men and damage to property in a riot following the blasts. He said action would be taken against those responsible for these incidents in accordance with the law.

He thanked the delegation for their cooperation with the law enforcement agencies and also commended a cabinet committee on peace for its role in controlling unrest following the blasts.

Sharif said every citizen was equal before law and religious affiliations could not be a ground for the state to discriminate between them.

Shahbaz said those responsible for the Youhanabad blasts had wanted to divide the nation. However, he hoped that with unity amongst their ranks Pakistanis would be successful in countering the threat of terrorism.

The chief minister said that penalties for wall-chalking, misuse of loudspeaker and publication and distribution of hate literature had been made more stringent under the National Action Plan.  He said a Counter Terrorism Force established under the plan was now operational in the province. He said topics on peaceful coexistence were being added to the syllabi for educational institutions including seminaries.

The delegation included Bishop of Lahore Irfan Jamil, Archbishop of Cathedral Church Sebastian Shaw, Alexander Malik, Fr Emmanuel Mani, Fr Moris Jalal, Fr Frances Gulzar, Pastor Irshad Ashiq Naz, Fr Nadeem Frances and Lahore Cathedral Dean Rev Shahid Meraj.

They condemned the terrorist attack on the churches in Youhanabad. They also deplored the rioting and violence that led to the death of two men after the blasts. They said those responsible for the killings should be penalised.  They assured the government of their cooperation. The delegation said while protesting a wrong was a constitutional right no one could be allowed to take the law in their hands.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 19^th, 2015.