LAHORE:Provincial Minister and Chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Law and Order, Khawaja Salman Rafique has said that the religious scholars have a key role to play in maintaining peace and stability. All schools of thought are on the same page when it came to Pakistan’s security.
He said that Punjab Home Department is continuing its engagement with religious scholars representing different schools of thought. The provincial government is promoting both inter-sectarian and interfaith harmony. 'We must rise above all differences and stand united for the security and stability of the country,' he said.
The minister expressed these views during his meeting with a delegation of religious scholars here on Monday.The delegation included Chairman of the Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) and Special Assistant to PM Hafiz Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi, President of the National Paigham-e-Aman Committee Punjab Hafiz Maqbool Ahmad, Dr Mir Asif Akbar Qadri, Qaiser Ahmad Raja, Abdul Waris Gill and Allama Tahir-ul-Hassan. The participants exchanged views on unity among Muslims and the overall law and order situation across the province.
Secretary Home Punjab Dr Ahmad Javed Qazi said that Islam is a religion of peace, love and tolerance. He said that the Punjab govt is working to counter extremism and promote the values of tolerance and peaceful coexistence. He added that religious scholars, teachers, parents, the media and national institutions must collectively fulfil their shared responsibility in guiding and educating the younger generation.
Tahir Ashrafi appreciated the Punjab govt’s efforts for promoting unity among different schools of thought. He said that religious scholars from all schools of thought stood alongside the state in efforts to maintain peace and strengthen mutual unity.
