Lahore: The National Interfaith Harmony and Peace Conference was held at the Peace Center in Pak Arab Society, Lahore on Monday. The conference was attended by Ambassador of Holy City Archbishop Christophe Z. El.Khasis while the Peace Awards were presented to religious leaders of all faiths at the conference.
Fr James, Director of the Peace Center, welcomed all the guests in his welcome address and elaborated on the aims and objectives of the conference. Archbishop Christoph said that in today’s world, emphasis on interfaith dialogue is much needed so that religious leaders belonging to different religions can promote love and affection from their religious places of worship. Provincial Minister for Human Rights Ejaz Alam said incidents like Sialkot and Khanewal try to be a hindrance in the journey of peace but after such incidents the attitude of the state needs to be seen while no state can allow the people to start judging by their own court. He emphasized the need for all of us to work together to become the “Adnan Malik” so that peace and love could be fostered in the society and intolerant attitudes could be eradicated. Afzal Chaudhary said that he feel proud be working with the Ministry of Human Rights in the service of suffering humanity. He said that we all have to promot love and peace in the society as message of every religion. Sibastian Shaw, Maulana Syed Abdul Khabir Azad, Sardar Bishan Singh, Dr. Munawar Chand, Mufti Ashiq Hussain, Hussain Mahi-ud-Din Qadri, Father Younis Shehzad, Reverend Dr. Irfan Jameel and others also gave short speeches and condemned the Sialkot, Khanewal and other incidents. At the end of the conference, various religious leaders were presented with Peace Awards including Mohi-ud-Din Qadri, Rev. Azad Marshal, Provincial Minister Ejaz Alam, Sardar Sikandar Singh, Allama Muhammad Zubair Abid, Allama Shafqat Rasool, Rev. Dr. Marcos, Dr. Munawar Chand, Allama Dr. Badr Munir, Sohail Ahmad Raza, Pir Syed Naw Bihar, Rev. Shahid Meraj, Special Adviser to the Human Rights Afzal Chaudhry, Father Iftikhar Moon, Father Jamshed Albert, Father James Channan and Samuel Piara l.