Summary President Zardari says we believe in tolerant Islam and have to counter those who believe in hate.
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has called for unity and harmony to address the challenge of extremism and terrorism.
Speaking at the concluding session of National Conference on Interfaith Harmony, President Zardari said he has been pleading with the world community that the way the issue of terrorism is being addressed would not lead us to the win. He said there is need for adopting approach of peace and reconciliation.
He pointed out that more than three decades of war in Afghanistan have not brought peace to that country and Pakistan was worst affected by turmoil in Afghanistan.
The President pointed out that there was time when no one in Pakistan could imagine blowing himself up as suicide bomber as Islam is against suicide. He said people at that time lived in peace and harmony and there were no sectarian issues but then global politics changed the situation when religion was used as weapon of war.
In his address of welcome‚ Advisor to Prime Minister on National Harmony Paul Bhatti said since its inception in 2011‚ the Ministry of National Harmony took several important steps to promote harmony and interfaith dialogue.
He said no religion teaches violence or extremism and we should live together peacefully as citizen of Pakistan as envisioned by Quaid-e-Azam.
Retired Chief Justice Rana Bhagwan Das said we can address the challenge of extremism and terrorism through unity and tolerance. He said the country was passing through a critical phase and there is need to take practical steps to promote inter-faith harmony.
Chairman Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Mufti Muneebur Rehman read out declaration of the Conference that called among other things establishment of a National Council for Interfaith Harmony consisting of representatives from different faiths.
The conference also recommended formation of local level committees to promote national harmony. It proposed discarding use of the word minorities replacing it with some appropriate word like non-Muslim Pakistanis.
The conference recommended encouragement of inter-faith dialogue and steps by the international community to address root causes of terrorism. It condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. It emphasized that terrorism should not be attributed to a particular group or nation.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also attended the conference.
