The World Pashto Conference organized a two day Peace Conference in Khybyer Pakhutunkhwa Peshawar Nashtar Hall. More than fifteen hundred people participated in this conference. URI Quetta Roots CC supported the conference. Renowned poets, writers, intellectuals, politicians, academia, policymakers, ministers, tribal leaders, religious clerics, human rights and peace activists, youth groups and common people participated in the conference.
“Greater Than Building Abrahaham’s Qaaba Is To Heal The Wounded Heart Of Another” is the quote of the renowned Pashto Sufi poet Rahman Baba, who’s holy shrine was blown up by Taliban. URI Quetta Roots CC came up with Raham Baba’s quote displaying it in English and Pashto as message and symbol of peace, respect, harmony and love among nations, religions and groups. The emphasis is on the purification of deeds and hearts rather then on rituals for appearance sake only.
Participants were really impressed with the message of Rahamna Baba on the Banners. The Conference was inaugurated by the chief Minster of KPK Amir Hyder Khan Hoti. Pakhtun writers, poets and intellectuals from all over the world irrespective of their political affiliation or views gathered in Peshawar to see how to handle the growing problems of terrorism. The only way for survival is the immediate restoration of peace to their homeland that is now divided between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The inauguration was followed by recitation of holy Quran.
Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Amir Hyder Khan Hoti, said that the World Pashto Peace Conference is deeply appreciated by the people in Pakistan and it will have positive results and impact on this war and terror that is affecting the region.
Today, the Pakhtun nation is passing through a very delicate phase and this program is a step to give energy to counter anti-peace and anti-human rights elements. People in this region have paid a heavy price for peace and are still paying a heavy price. We have to be ready to further pay the price as this region is facing serious challenge of terrorism which is affecting peace in Pakistan and Afghanistan. This challenge can be reversed with public support, harmony, respect, love and peaceful messages from our traditions. Stability and peace in Pakistan and Afghanistan work together. We should not forget that until there is peace in Afghanistan there can not be peace in Pakistan and vice-versa.
Different stalls were set during the conference to display their products. URI Quetta CC was also given one stall where it displayed URI booklets and materials. Irfan Ali, Member URI Quetta Roots CC, introduced about the URI efforts in peace building around the world.
He said the purpose of coming to World Pashto Peace Conference in Peshwar was to introduce URI principles and create an agreement around URI charter and values to go beyond us to others. That means, to know about other religions, civilizations and cultures and to develop a mechanism for interfaith and intercultural dialogue necessary for the promotion and protection of peace and stability.
Mr. Irfan Ali further said that this is a great opportunity for URI today in KPK to know others and make URI values known to conference participants. The world is more unsafe than ever before. Therefore we need to make known to the world the teachings of Rahman Baba who for his whole life preached love, harmony, respect and purification of deeds, souls and hearts. Unfortunately, today his teachings are ignored and only narrow-minded people who misguide and misinterpret teachings of Islam are replacing by force his spirit of logic, truth , attraction and beauty.
The participants deeply appreciated this CC effort participating in World Pashto Peace Conference and the fact that Mr Ali travelled a long way in such tough conditions.
Hearing about URI Charter and Principles, people and organizations showed their full support for URI and said that URI was welcome to work in this area. Leaders who gave their approval are: Mr Dr Khadim Hussain managing director BAACHA KHAN Trust Educational Foundation; Mr. Kamran Khan, National Youth Coordinator Sustainable Peace & Development Organization; Mr. Prince Mahir Ullah, managing director and Tour Leader UNTAMED BORDERS Adventures in Pakistan and Afghanistan; Ahmad Pulail, Executive Director Ahmad Associates. All the members of World Pashto Peace Conference - the writers, poets, journalists, intellectuals, academia, Minsters, politicians, and other high profile people were impressed by URI values
The conference was really interactive, positive. There was knowledge sharing and an overall good network was established to further develop URI’s work in KPK. URI has received warm welcome here. URI was introduced to more than fifteen hundred people.
Click here for the full conference report with photos.
