Interfaith Conference Highlights Peace, Religious Freedom and Unity in Diversity

Rahmat-ul-lil-Alameen Interfaith Harmony Conference Promotes Peace, Tolerance and Humanity
LAHORE — Nazrana Times Ali Imran Chattha 
A Rahmat-ul-lil-Alameen Conference on Interfaith Harmony brought together religious scholars and representatives of Muslim, Sikh, Hindu and Christian communities to promote a message of peace, tolerance, mutual respect and humanity.
Held at the auditorium of Rao Dental Hospital under the chairmanship of Khakan Waheed Khawaja, Chairman of Pakistan Awami Quwwat, the conference featured discussions on interfaith harmony, religious freedom, social cooperation and the need for greater understanding among communities.
A large number of religious scholars from different schools of thought attended the gathering, including Dr. Mufti Mir Ishtiaq Advocate, Syed Anjum Shah Bukhari, Sahibzada Syed Ataullah Shah Bukhari, Agha Nair Jafri, Hafiz Amjad Islam, Maulana Ata-ur-Rehman Madani and Maulana Iftikhar Khokhar.
Representatives of non-Muslim communities also participated, including Sardar Anoop Singh from the Sikh community, Pandit Rakesh Chand representing the Hindu community and Jibran Gill Masih from the Christian community.
Speakers emphasized that dialogue, mutual respect and cooperation among people of different faiths are important for maintaining social harmony and peaceful coexistence.

Mayor Ishtiaq Ahmed Addresses Conference
Mayor Ishtiaq Ahmed Advocate delivered an address on interfaith harmony, highlighting the importance of mutual respect, justice and religious freedom in building a stable and developed society.
His remarks received appreciation from participants and the audience.
Sahibzada Ataullah Shah Bukhari’s Address
Sahibzada Ataullah Shah Bukhari spoke about the character and teachings of the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad ﷺ, highlighting lessons relating to compassion, morality and humanity.
He emphasized the relevance of these principles in promoting peace and understanding in society.
Sikh Community Participation
Representing the Sikh community, Sardar Anoop Singh spoke about Sikh religious teachings and the teachings of Guru Nanak. He highlighted values of compassion, love and peace and spoke about the importance of respecting people of different faiths.
His participation added to the conference’s focus on dialogue and cooperation between religious communities.
Hindu Community Participation
Pandit Rakesh Chand, Chairman of Pakistan Sanatan Dharam, represented the Hindu community. He spoke about the teachings and character of the Holy Prophet ﷺ and discussed issues concerning religious freedom and the rights of minority communities.
He also shared his perspective and experiences regarding the rights and freedoms available to religious minorities in Pakistan.
Christian Community Participation
Representing the Christian community, Jibran Gill Masih spoke about the values of love, peace, tolerance and humanity associated with the teachings of the Holy Prophet ﷺ.
He emphasized that the message of compassion should encourage respect and peaceful coexistence among people of different communities.
The participation of representatives from different religions provided a platform for discussing shared values while allowing each community to maintain its own religious identity and beliefs.

Khakan Waheed Khawaja’s Message
During the concluding session, Khakan Waheed Khawaja addressed participants and discussed the manifesto and public-welfare vision of Pakistan Awami Quwwat.
He emphasized the importance of education, skills development and employment opportunities in empowering young people and contributing to Pakistan’s development.
He also highlighted initiatives associated with Pakistan Awami Quwwat, including employment opportunities for young people, e-commerce training, nursing education and German-language skills.
Organizers and Contributors
The idea for organizing the interfaith harmony conference was presented by Amjad Hussain Alvi, while Malik Shakeel Awan contributed to the approval of the initiative.
The event was organized with the efforts of Hafiz Amjad Islam, a leader of the Ulema and Mashaikh of Pakistan Awami Quwwat, along with members of the Central Executive Committee and the Ulema and Mashaikh Council.
Pakistan Awami Quwwat Secretary General Malik Ijaz, Coordinator Sohrab Latif Baig, organizational workers and the media team also contributed to the event.
The conference concluded with calls for greater dialogue, tolerance, religious freedom and cooperation among communities.
Speakers stressed that peaceful coexistence requires respect for differences and equal dignity for citizens regardless of their religious background.
The conference conveyed a broader message of promoting dialogue over confrontation, unity over division and compassion over hatred, while encouraging efforts towards a society where people of different religions and communities can live with safety, dignity and mutual respect.