Faislabad: A delegation of the Interfaith Commission for Peace & Harmony (ICPH) and the International Religious Freedom Roundtable for Pakistan (IRF Pakistan) on Sunday visited Christian Colony in Jaranwala to express solidarity with affected members of the community after Wednesday riots.
The ICPH and IRF Pakistan delegation included the Ambassador at Large for Global Peace & Human Rights, Chairman Interfaith Commission for Peace & Harmony (ICPH) and Co-Chair of the International Religious Freedom Roundtable for Pakistan Imam Allama Ahsan Siddiqui, Senator Kamran Maical Mufti Muhammad Ashiq Hussain, Hafiz Noman Hamid, and Qari Muhammad Irfan.
Ambassador Allama Ahsan expressed deep sorrow for the message of solidarity and condolence to the Pakistani Christian (minority) community from the Interfaith Commission for Peace & Harmony (ICPH) and Co-Chair International Religious Freedom Roundtable for Pakistan. The delegation also visited almost 26 vandalised churches and hundreds of affected homes at various places in Jaranwala. It is not easy to tell someone that hundreds of Bibles and other religious books are burnt in these churches. So many Christian homes and pastor’s houses in 16 Christian villages were also set fire by the violent mob. They also met the victims of the displaced minority community.
Imam Allama Ahsan Siddiqui said the (ICPH) & IRF Pakistan considers minorities as equal citizens and does not differentiate between the rights of majority and minority. He said our religion Islam also provides full rights and freedom to minorities, protection and rights of minorities in our religion and constitution,”
The Christian people said that they will never forget this ill-fated incident and how they saved their lives from the aggressive mob. Some of them went to hidden places and some could not find a secure place so they went into the fields and spent a life risky night there under the open sky.
He said that all citizens in Jinnah’s Pakistan had equal protection, rights, and freedoms. It is an attack on the reputation and writ of the state. We are standing with our Christian friends in these distressing times. We assure to provide you with every kind of assistance from our side. We pray for the healing of wounds and the restoration of peace in Jaranwala and throughout Pakistan,
Ambassador Allama Ahsan Siddiqui emphasised during a media interaction that building a peaceful and resilient country required active participation from all segments of society. He said the IRF Pakistan and ICPH had pledged to provide assistance to the young victims of the Jaranwala incident, announcing their commitment to organise arrangements for the affected girls’ dowries as part of their ongoing support efforts.
Hafiz Noman Hamid said that noted that concerted efforts would be made across all levels to discourage illegal actions under the guise of blasphemy or religious insult.
He said that We must strive to cultivate tolerance, respect, and patience in our society and reject any attempts to exploit religion for personal or political gains.
Mufti Muhammad Ashiq Hussain called on all segments of society to come forward and collectively play their part to end ignorance, religious hatred, and extremism in society.
