PESHAWAR
\nIslam teaches inter-faith harmony, love and peace and same are the teachings of Jesus Christ, said Rt. Revd. Ernest Jacob, Bishop of Anglican Orthodox Church of Pakistan while addressing a Christmas get-together arranged by Pakistan Christian Association of USA in collaboration with Peshawar Press Club here at its premises on Tuesday.
\nBishop Ernest stressed the need of love, unity and peace not only in Pakistan rest of the world and the same are the teachings of both Islam and Christianity. He led special prayers for the peace and prosperity of Pakistan and the entire world. He said inter-faith harmony, love and peace is key to ensure unity in our rank for the progress of our beloved Pakistan.
\nMember United Nation ECOSOC Dr. Khalid Pervaiz Sulehri, former Chief Coordinator Ministry of Human Right of Pakistan and Founder President, International Human Right Observer, underlined the need to follow the saying of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah to treat minorities equally as they are the true Pakistanis. He said no one has the right to treat minorities harshly or mistreat them.
\nHe also appreciated James Cyprian, a Pakistani-American and Secretary-General of the Pakistan Christian Association of USA for his dedicated efforts in establishing a softer image of Pakistan to the rest of the world and highlighted the rights of Christians in Pakistan.
\nHead of Christian Students Fellowship Augustine Jacob and the gathering also wished the Christian community \u2013 \u201cA Merry Christmas\u201d. He also highlighted the historical significance of the relationship between Muslims and Christians and said that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) had taught tolerance and love towards minorities.
\nIt is the government\u2019s responsibility to protect the rights of the minorities, he added. He said that Islam never supports violence and oppression but has taught peace and non-violence to the world in every age.
\nHe said that the main reason for Islamophobia spreading in the world at present is that the basic teachings of Islam have not been understood. In order to curb the negative propaganda against Islam, it is necessary to promote inter-religious harmony in the society and provide a better environment for the minority community, he further added.
\nDr. Khalid Sulehri lauded Pakistan Christian Association of USA for working a bridge between Muslim, Christians and other religious monitories in Pakistan for sharing the joy of Christmas.
\nLeading Hindu community leader Haroon Sarab Diyal also appreciated for holding such a gathering in connection with the Christmas celebration. He also lauded the role of James Cyprian who held such events during his visits to Pakistan.
\nProminent leader of the Hindu Community Haroon Sarab Diyal appealed to the World Bank and IMF to extend relief and ensure relax condition in the present circumstances to Pakistan which has badly affected in the wake of terrorism, militancy and insurgency.
\nHe said because of their toughest conditions every Pakistani including minorities had suffered badly as a result of present day price hikes of various items of daily use.
\nHaroon Sarab Diyal said Pakistanis have given matchless sacrifices in the war against terror and millions of people have lost their lives, the Pakistani Army and Jawans of security forces fought with bravery on the frontline to ensure peace in the rest of the world and in this region, therefore, both World Bank and IMF should relax their conditions in this context.
\nHe suggested that the allocation of the present government grant of Rs. 3 million for minority communities should be spent in Afghanistan wherein people are facing a big threat and human crisis.
\nLeader of Christian Students Fellowship Augustine Jacob on this occasion said that the victims of the bomb blast of All Saints Church are still awaiting compensation from the government side that had already been approved.
\nHe said it was a big dilemma that despite suffering and great loss of precious lives as a result of the bomb blast occurred 13-years ago, the victims\u2019 families are being deprived of their genuine rights on the part of the government.
\nHe appealed to the Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan and Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan to look into the matter and release the grant as early as possible to provide relief to the affected families.
\nEarnest Nehal, Pastor Shakeel, Safeerullah Khan also addressed the largely-attended gathering. A Christmas cake-cutting ceremony was also held wherein all the guests took part. Speakers from different walks of life congratulated the Christian community on Christmas, highlighting the importance of Christmas and religious harmony.
\nEarlier, James Cyprian in his address of welcome thanked Peshawar Press Club, Muslim, Hindu, Sikhs and Christian community members for their presence, friendship between Muslim and minorities in Pakistan is everlasting and we consider the happiness of the people of Pakistan as our happiness, so this event is undoubtedly the unique event of its kind in Peshawar which conveys the message of love, peace to the communities. It is also intended that our brothers and sisters share their happiness toward Christian communities on the eve of Christmas across the world.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
PESHAWAR Islam teaches inter-faith harmony, love and peace and same are the teachings of Jesus Christ, said Rt. Revd. Ernest Jacob, Bishop of Anglican Orthodox Church of Pakistan while addressing a Christmas get-together arranged by Pakistan Christian Association of USA in collaboration with Peshawar Press Club here at its premises on Tuesday. Bishop Ernest stressed […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-235581","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-peshawar"},"yoast_head":"\n