Islamabad: President Azad Jammu and Kashmir Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry has said that all religious and ethnic minorities in Pakistan are not only treated with respect but also live together in peace and harmony.
Talking to a delegation of a social organisation “All Neighbours” that called on him here today, the AJK president said, ” Islam is a religion of peace and brotherhood that guarantees equal rights to all ethnic and religious minorities”.
Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry further said that Jaranwala incident was condemned at all levels and caretaker Prime Minister of Pakistan Anwarul Haq Kakar, Chief Minister of Punjab and other government functionaries visited the spot and expressed sympathy with the victims.
He said that the leadership of all the political and religious parties of Pakistan denounced the incident and stood in solidarity with the Christian community. He said that the Army Chief General Asim Munir also strongly condemned the incident and made it clear that nobody would be allowed to disturb inter religious harmony in the country.
He, however, maintained that concerted and collective efforts were required to prevent such incidents in the future.
Referring to the ruthless suppression of religious minorities in India, Barrister Chaudhry said minorities in India were being treated as third class citizens.
He said that mistreatment of Christians in the Indian state of Manipur speaks volumes about the repression religious minorities have faced in the country.
To the contrary, the president said that minorities in Azad Kashmir enjoy equal rights and live peacefully together with the majority community in the region.
The president said that All Neighbors should highlight this less talked aspect of our society in the world and raise its voice in favour of Kashmiri people who were suffering from Indian oppression and tyranny in Occupied Kashmir.
He urged the members of the delegation to raise their voice to help Kashmiri people to achieve their basic right, the right to self-determination guaranteed to them by the international community.
The AJK president appreciated the services rendered by the All Neighbours in promoting interfaith and inter-religious harmony within the USA and other parts of the world.
On the occasion, memorable shields were presented to the visiting delegation.
The delegation also invited the President AJK to visit America, which was accepted by the president.
The delegation was comprised of Bruener B. Newton, Ayesha Khan, Alia Mehreen Khan, Dr. Joe Knight Knight, Dr. Raj Rathore, Anwar Qasmi, Ilyas Masih and Miss Meena Younis and others.