To promote peace and harmony among different religions residing in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) of Pakistan, a daylong Interfaith Coordination Conference was held in Peshawar organized by the Faith Friends NWFP chapter of the World Council of Religions.
The major aim of the conference was to prepare the road-map for peace, reconciliation and harmony amongst various religions and sects and do away with the misconceptions and enmities being practised by the followers of different faiths.
About 600 delegates representing various religions and sects, from across the NWFP province were invited to attend the conference. Some important delegates were also invited from other provinces. Invitations were also sent to the Islamabad based diplomats of various European, American and Islamic countries. Prominent leaders from the minority community were also invited.
The conference was presided over by Mr. Akram Durrani, chief minister of the NWFP, prominent speakers included Mullana Fazal Ali, the provincial Education minister, Mullana Ammanullaha Haqqani, the provincial Auqaf and Religious minister, Mullana Qari Hanif Jallandhri, central president of the World Council of Religions, Qari Rooh Ullaha Madni, Chief Khateeb of NWFP government, Allama Fakhar ul Islam Qararwi Shia leader, Sardar Sardeep Singh of Sikh community, Mr. Haroon Zarab Dayal, leader of the Hindu community, Rt. Rev. Samuel Azriaha, Bishop of Raiwind and Rt. Rev. Mano Rhumalshah, Bishop of Peshawar Diocese.
The Chief Minister in his address stated that the government of NWFP is trying to promote peace and harmony among all the religions and the provincial government is trying to provide equal opportunities of development to all the communities of different faiths. He said special funds have been allocated for the repair and maintenance of the Holy places of all religions. He said that some forces are using religion as tool to achieve their political motives and the religious scholars must try to uncover those forces to bring peace and harmony in the world. His government will encourage dialogue at district level between various religious groups. He further stated that Islam is a religion of peace and brotherhood however some elements of the Society have misinterpreted Islam and trying to disrupt the peace and tranquillity of the province. He also stated that peace could be achieved only by providing justice to the deprived and the Muslims are presently at the receiving end, in the name of terrorism. As long as justice is denied to ordinary people there can be no peace and harmony. He stressed on the need of tolerance and understanding among various faiths.
Mullana Fazal Ali, the provincial education minister stated that Pakistan is a democratic and tolerant country. He told the dignitaries that Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance. There is interfaith harmony among people belonging to various religions. He stated that the root cause of extremism lies in deprivation and lack of access to education. He said the local government is trying to focus on interfaith harmony. He said in Pakistan minorities have the right of political participation in the form of joint electorate and reserve seats.
The provincial minister for Auqaf and religious affairs, Mullana Amanullaha Haqqani, stated that Islam is a religion of peace, brotherhood, compassion and teaches tolerance and respect for all faiths. He said harder efforts should be made to promote interfaith harmony in order to make the world a better place to live. Discrimination on the basis of religion, caste, colour creed and gender is unacceptable in Islam. He said there is a need for dialogue between the people of various faiths to avert the clash of civilizations.
Qari Rooh Ullaha Madni, the chief kateeb of the NWFP government and coordinator of Faith Friends laid out the whole thinking behind this conference and presated its framework. He emphasized the need on peace, tolerance and communal harmony. He stressed on the scholars to promote brotherhood among the various faiths through example. He assured the participants that the local government will support the interfaith conferences at all levels.
Allama Fakhar Ul Islam Qararwi in his short speech stated that human beings are created on the image of God and they should reflect the nature of their creator. We should be trying to bring relief and comfort to other human beings. The differences among various faiths should be resolved through dialogue and patience.
Sardar Sardeep Singh of Sikh community and Mr. Haroon Zarab Dayal, leader of the Hindu community stated that the creator of the universe is one God but perceived differently by human beings. His love shines on all human beings and our lives should depict our creator. They stressed that minority communities are socially and economically weak and the majority community should be more tolerant towards the minority community.
The Bishop of Peshawar, Rt. Rev. Mano Rumalshah, speaking on behalf of the christian community said that the christian community of the Province has been faithfully serving the country in the fields of education, health and community development. He described the relief and rehabilitation activities carried out by his community in the earthquake affected areas, inhabited by the Muslim community. He cited this especially to highlight the Church's continued commitment to interfaith service, a tangible expression of reconciliation. He praised the confidence building measures adopted by the present provincial government but stressed that still lot needs to be done to restore the respect, sense of security, equal opportunities of development and most importantly to be considered as the equal citizens of Pakistan. He expressed his disappointment at the approach of the majority community who consider the loyal but deprived minority communities of Pakistan with either Europe or America on the basis of the religion. In a telling comment, he observed that the Christian and other minority communities do not seek 'protection' from the Muslim majority, but rather that they be treated in a manner that befits a true Muslim believer. He said that in the wake of the deteriorating political and social conditions in the country it is the responsibility of the religious scholars and teachers to present a true picture of their faith as no religion promotes bloodshed and hatred among the people. He said that its his faith imperative and thus a compulsion and an obligation to follow the road to reconciliation and peaceful coexistence as walked by Jesus Christ Himself. He also hoped that these dialogues between the different religions will evolve a framework that can stop aggression and hatred against other religions especially the minority communities of Pakistan.
Rt. Rev. Samuel Azriaha, Bishop of Raiwind Diocese, praised the NWFP governments initiative in holding this conference. He hoped that this will be followed by other provinces and ultimately more and more faiths and communities will be involved in this iprocess. He stated that one or two conferences will not end the enmities and misconceptions between the different faiths rather this should be an ongoing process and the people and individuals from grass-root level should also be included in these dialogues. He hoped that the quest for peaceful coexistence and reconciliation will be achieved but sincere efforts and patience have to be displayed by all the faith friends.
All the speakers agreed that such conferences and dialogues should continue in future as well. They mostly said that the aim of these dialogues is not to form a new religion but to provide a platform, where issues could be resolved through dialogue and a better understanding of religions could be shared by all the faithful. The spirit of the conference was highly praised and the speakers believed that this conference will help bring groups of different faiths closer to each other and ultimately help in the peaceful co-existence of different faiths based on equality and mutual respect. They stressed the need for promotion of interfaith harmony and reconciliation and urged that we should think as citizens of Pakistan and work for peace and conflict resolution as it is vital for poverty alleviation and community development.
The mood of the conference was disturbed when Mullana Qari Hanif Jalandhri, central president of the World Council of Religions, denounced the Hindu and Sikh scholars for pointing out similarities between their religion and Islam. He stated that the minority communities should force the foreign governments, with whom they share the religious identity, to stop aggression against the Muslim countries. On this the minority communities protested against his remarks at which Mr. Akram Durrani, Chief minister of the NWFP had to intervene and said that the minorities are part of Pakistan and they have made sacrifices in the creation and development of this great country.
At the end of the conference a joint resolution was passed, in which all the participants agreed that they shall try to promote peace and harmony through religious freedom. And that the holy places along with their leaders and holy prophets shall be respected and sanctity of the holy books shall be maintained. It was also agreed that at international level a clear definition needs to be formulated which distinguishes between terrorism and freedom fighters. It was also decided that all matters of mutual interests shall be resolved through dialogue, moreover such dialogues shall be organized at district levels.
The resolution was read out by the coordinator of the Faith Friends, Qari Rooh Ullaha and the participants approved it by acclamation.