Pakistan Council for Social Welfare & Human Rights with the collaboration of Convent of Jesus & Mary Sialkot Cantt organized the Peace & Solidarity ceremony at Convent of Jesus & Mary Sialkot Cantt on April 8, 2013. The purpose of that peace & solidarity ceremony was to create an inter-religious & inter-cultural harmony, understanding and show solidarity with the religious minorities particularly Pakistani Christians living here in Pakistan and abroad to eradicate their depravedness and assure them that protection of minorities and their assets is moral obligation of Islamic state and its citizens, civil societies, media and others peace lovers sectors of life and there is no difference being Pakistani between the Muslims & Christians and infect the Muslim community is custodian of their fundamental religious and human rights as per teachings of Islam and ideology and constitution of Pakistan and vision of Father of Nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
The ceremony was attended by the notable persons by the both Muslims and Christian community. Ch. Ameer Hussain former Speaker National Assembly of Pakistan and Acting President of Pakistan was the chief guest of that ceremony. Mr. Tahir Mehmood Hundli Ex- Member Provincial Assembly Punjab, Mr. Muhammad Ijaz Noori Chairman Pakistan Council for Social Welfare & Human Rights, Vice Chairman Mr. Arshad Ali Bhatti, Executive Director Mr. Mansoor Ahmed, Prominent political and social figure Mr. Mushtaq Ahmed Qadri, Prominent Muslim religious Scholar Dr. Mufti Najeeb Ahmed Hashmi Nazim Ulma Council Minhaj –ul- Quran, Mr. Arif Nadeem former secretary Sialkot Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Tofueeq Ullah, Mr. Naseer Ahmed, Mr. Owais Khan
President Islamic Student Organization (Anjuman Tilaba Islam) Mr. Rizwan Khan, Mr. Anser Farooq Bhatti Secretary General Punjab Teachers Union District Sialkot and others so many notable personalities from various civil society organizations, represented the Muslims community in the ceremony, whereas Rev. Sr. Mary Grace Principal Convent of Jesus & Mary Sialkot Cantt, Rev. Fr. Robin Bashir from St. James Church Sialkot, all Sisters from Convent of Jesus & Mary Sialkot, Mr. Shahid Bashir, Mr. Morris Masih and others represented the Christian community in the ceremony whereas representatives of various political parties in which Pakistan Peoples Party, Pakistan Muslim League (N), Pakistan Muslim League (Q). Jamate Islami, Pakistan Tareke Islam (PTI) etc also participated in the ceremony. Large number of Media representatives both Print and Electronic leaded by Mr. Bilal Khan Executive member Sialkot Press Club, Hafiz Mobeen vice President Sialkot Press Club, Mr. Kaleem Rauf Chisti former General Secretary Sialkot Press Club also participated in the ceremony to represent their organizations as well as Sialkot Press Club.
To show the solidarity with the Christians community all Muslims guests walked from the main gate of CJM Sialkot to Principal Office and presented the flowers to the Sisters and Fathers and others Christian representatives over there to express solidarity gesture. The Rev. Sr. Mary Grace, Fr. Robin Bashir, Sisters and students of CJM Sialkot warmly welcomed the all Muslims Guests and on that occasion girls sang the peace songs, pigeons & balloons were released and Peace flag with Pakistani National Flag also was also raised. Rev. Sr. Mary Grace Principal CJM Sialkot and Fr. Robin Bashir while addressing during the ceremony warmly welcomed the all participants and appreciated the gesture of goodwill by the Pakistan Council for Social Welfare & Human Rights on behalf of Muslims Community to show the solidarity with the Christian Community living here in Pakistan. On behalf of all Christian community they thanked all the Muslim members of the Council for organizing the Peace & Solidarity ceremony in defense of Pakistani Christians to
assure them that protection of minorities and their assets is moral obligation of Islamic state and its citizens and there is no difference being Pakistani between the Muslims & Christians and infect the Muslim community is custodian of their fundamental religious and human rights as per teachings of Islam and ideology of Pakistan.
While addressing during the ceremony Chief Guest Ch. Ameer Hussain Former Speaker National Assembly of Pakistan said that to made Pakistan Islamic Welfare and developed state as per the vision of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, interfaith harmony, elimination of terrorist & extremism mindset is necessary and need of hour. For this purpose we have to make the joint struggle for the protection of fundamental rights of follower of all religions especially minorities and depraved communities. He said that constitution of Pakistan assures the equal rights to the all minorities living here in Pakistan. He further said that it is our moral obligation that we should joint work for the protection of human rights, minorities’ rights and sustainable human development for the elimination of terrorism and extremism from our beloved country. Pakistan has already paid the very heavy price in war against terrorism.
Addressing during the ceremony Mr. Tahir Mehmood Hundli Advocate Ex- Member Provincial Assembly said that promotion of quality education can eradicate the all negative thinking and only result orientated education may make Pakistan stronger, prosperous and developed country. He also said that to combat against terrorism and extremism we will have to political will and struggle and as public representative we will also play our role at National and Assembly level for the protection of minorities living here in Pakistan. Addressing during the peace and solidarity ceremony Mr. Muhammad Ijaz Noori Chairman Pakistan Council for Social Welfare & Human Rights said that Islam commitment for interfaith harmony, co-existence and unity according to the ideals of Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan.
During the peace & solidarity ceremony candles were also let as peace symbolic and joint peace prayers was also held. During the ceremony all participants strongly condemn the Joseph Colony incident and said that such kind of incidents are conspiracy against the integrity and solidarity of Pakistan but all Pakistanis will fail the conspiracy with mutual unity, self respect and showing solidarity with each others.
