Islamabad

World Interfaith Harmony Week was celebrated by Universal Interfaith Peace Mission (UIPM) from February 01 to February 10, 2014, says a press release.

UIPM endorsed, ‘A Common Word between Us and You’ in 2008 which is an open letter, from leaders of the Islamic religion to leaders of the Christian religion calling for peace between Muslims and Christians.

On 11th September, 2009 the then Ambassador of Jordan to Pakistan Dr Saleh Al-Jawarneh inaugurated the office of ‘A Common Word between Us and You’ at Jamia Masjid Mai Saleem Akhtar, Islamabad.

After the inauguration of the centre, several conferences on ‘A Common Word between Us and You’ were held in which it was highlighted that this historic agreement gives the right keynote for relations between Muslims and Christians in the 21st century. It also helped shelve the notion most religious leaders from other faiths perceive about Islam that Muslims don’t support them in the name of religion.

On February 01, 2014 a breakfast was arranged for members of different faiths at Balmik Hindu Temple, Lalkurti, Rawalpindi. Hindu Panchayat Committee Rawalpindi President Om Prakash, Pandit Chana Lal, Gudu Kumari, and Universal Interfaith Peace Mission Chairman Dr AGR Chishti attended the breakfast with Hindus and Christians of the area. Hindu leaders praised UIPM for holding such an event for interfaith harmony.

On February 2, a mass prayer was held at Baptist Church, Chashma Town, Islamabad. Accompanied by Pastor Arif Sardar and Pastor Aftab Ahmed and others UIPM Chairman AGR Chishti offered prayers for interfaith harmony. The pastors supported the cause saying Muslim-Christian relations are important and need of the hour for mutual co-existence.

On February 3, videos and speeches of different leaders from Islamic world on interfaith harmony were screened for students of Divine Light Public School, Islamabad. Dr AGR Chishti apprised the students about interfaith harmony.

On February 04, Universal Interfaith Peace Mission organised an Interfaith Harmony Conference at Islamabad Hotel, which was attended by, Sardar Muhammad Yusuf, Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Afrasiab Khan Khattak, Senator, Chairman Functional Committee on Human Rights of Senate of Pakistan, Malik Amjad Husain Alvi, Chairman Tanzeem ul Aawan Pakistan and President Amnesty International Rawapindi/Islamabad, Zubair Ahmed Farooq Advocate, Global Trustee of United Religions Initiative for Asia, Islamabad Chambers of Commerce ad Industry Chairman Zafar Bakhtawari, Pandit Chana Lal and others. The speakers said that when unnecessary bloodshed in the name of religion is causing chaos around the world there is need to make concerted efforts to unite faiths and cultures on a platform theninterfaith harmony is the best possible solution. They also tried to dispel the misconceptions about interfaith harmony saying most people consider interfaith harmony as a movement, which interferes in religions. Interfaith harmony is not against any religion. The movement preaches every religion to follow the path and teachings of their respective religions, said Allama G R Chishti.

On February 06, Universal Interfaith Peace Mission organised a ceremony at Sir Syed Grammar School and College, Rawalpidi, which was attended by Principal Hafsa Saeed and General Secretary Qazi Hafeez ur Rehman advocate. They welcomed the interfaith harmony initiative of UIPM.

At the Juma congregation at Jamia Masjid Mai Saleem Akhtar, Islamabad, on February 07, Dr AGR Chishti spoke on interfaith harmony and ‘A Common Word between Us and You’. He said that celebration of world interfaith harmony week goes to ‘A Common Word between Us and You’, which has provided a common ground to the world for peace and shed light on interfaith harmony in light of Quran and Sunnah. On Feb 10 Interfaith Conference was held at the Islamia University Bahawalpur, Bhawalnagar Campus, which was presided over by Dr. Altaf Hussain Langrial, director campus. Officials from district Bahwalnagar, faculty members, social activists, students and people from all walks of life attended the conference.

– See more at: http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-6-233301-World-Interfaith-Harmony-Week-celebrated