Chairman Pakistan Council for Social Welfare & Human Rights Muhammad Ijaz Noori and Rev. Fr. James Channan Regional Director United Religion Initiatives Pakistan and former advisor to the pop pal II for religious tolerance has said that to solve the international crises, sustainable development, durable peace and equal social development, interfaith harmony and dialogues are need of hour. Sustainable development is impossible until the eradication of religious conflict. It is also need of hour that religious conflict should be halted and respect of all religions should also be ensured at all level. Today morning they were addressing a joint press conference here in Sialkot after Muslim Christian leadership meeting at the office of Pakistan Council for Social Welfare & Human Rights.
Mr. Muhammad Ijaz Noori and Rev. Fr. James Channan also said that the minorities are equaling enjoying the all civic & human rights in Pakistan. They said that the Constitution of Pakistan guarantees all freedoms and protects rights of the minorities. The role played by the minorities in the national development cannot be negated. Speaking on Rimsha Masih case during the press conference Mr. Noori and Fr. James Channan appreciated the decision to release Rimsha Masih by the by the court and said that this was a step in the right direction which has boosted the morale and confidence of all the law abiding citizens, especially the minorities in the country. Decision of court has effectively countered the negative propaganda being stirred up against Pakistan, as a country hostile to the minorities, by the international media. They also added, the decision is going to bring about a change in the perception prevailing amidst the civil society and the international community all over the world that Pakistan is a country hostile towards the minority communities.
They also lauded the role of government of Pakistan, religious scholars & leaders, the media, civil society etc who took a bold stance in the case. “All of them have provided an invaluable support throughout these testing times for young Rimsha Masih and her family in particular and all the minority communities in general and this decision is indeed worth celebrating. But this is just the beginning; a step in the right direction. As everybody had been saying right from the start that this is a ‘test case’ and could be made an example and as a preventive against such incidents in future, we hope that the judicial process will continue on the right path.
During the press conference Mr. Muhammad Ijaz Noori said that Islam is the religion of tolerance, peace, justice, equality and safeguard of the human rights and there is no room for the extremism , terrorism and blood shedding on the name of religion and he assured that the Muslim population of Pakistan will not fail to protect the fundamental rights of non-Muslim Pakistani to obeying Islamic teachings and Pakistani constitution While speaking during the press conference Mr. Noori and Fr. James Channan also said that United Religion Initiatives is working hard to promote interfaith dialogue and harmony in Pakistan and building bridges between different communities and the followers of different faiths. Earlier the delegation of the URI called on the office bearers of Pakistan Council for Social Welfare & Human Rights and discussed the matter of mutual interest.