Lahore: May 18, 2016 (Pervez Yousaf) Council for Interfaith Dialogue Pakistan (CFID) organized a one day Interfaith Peace Conference in a local hotel at Lahore. Main objective of the conference was to focus the core issues of the day including political tension, intolerance, and day by day increasing wave of violence and to find out the ways to overcome these issues. Coordinator of CFID Fr. Francis Nadeem OFM Cap and director Edward Qaisar were the main organizers of this deliberate event having Mr. Arif Hameed Butt, the cousin brother of prime minister of Pakistan Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and chief minister of Punjab Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif along with Mr. Paolo Affatato, Asia editor of Vatican Press Agency “agenzia fides” were the chief guests of the conference. The conference was presided by Allama Pir Shafaat Rasool, the chairman of CFID. Fr. Inayat Bernard and Hafiz Mufti Syed Ashiq Hussain, Directors, Pervez Yousaf secretary of CFID, Dr. Badar Munir Mujadadi, Sohail Ahmed Raza of PAT, Allama Asghar Arif Chishti, Anwaar-ul-Haque Khan, Razia Butt, Aneela, Pervaiz Akhtar Kalyan, Khurram Shahzad, Samson Paul and many other representatives of different religions and walks of life who were also present on this occasion. Welcoming all the guests and speakers Fr. Francis Nadeem brought the attention of all the participants that hatred and prejudice is the root cause of discrimination in our society. To eliminate this discrimination there is a dire need to amend syllabus of the schools which consists hate material and after reading such kind of educational material Muslim children consider and treat the non-Muslim students as infidels (in Urdu “Kafirs”). It has become very difficult for Christian children to study in state owned or other schools run by private sector. He expressed his hope towards Mr. Arif Hameed Butt, the chief guest of the interfaith peace conference, the chairman of a union council in Lahore and candidate of Lord mayor-ship of Lahore, to bring this fact into the knowledge of provincial and federal government of Pakistan. He also hoped that a positive step will be taken at both the levels that will help significantly to establish peace in the country. Presenting introduction of the Council for Interfaith Dialogue, Pakistan, Fr. Inayat Bernard, Director of CFID sharing his views about the current wave of terrorism said that more than 98% people of the country want to live in peace and harmony. There is only a small group of militants, playing with lives of people and engraving scars on the image of Pakistan, they are creating hurdles on its way towards progress and prosperity. There is a beauty in diversity, we all must always remember it and respect all the human beings with same manners so that peace may prevail in our country. Pir Shafaat Rasool a renowned Islamic scholar and chairman of CFID began his address saying, “Islam does not allow violence, and the most important thing in a society is to maintain justice on equal grounds. Diversity is the beauty and it is from Allah (God) the Almighty Who sustains it. He does not want that all His believers become followers of one religion, when He likes the diversity how come that man change His will.” He further said, “We should not try to curtail other religions, it is also impossible to do that. In the past followers of different religions tried to finish the other religions but they did not succeed in doing so. Despite all the previous and ongoing attempts carried out by the militants, followers of all the religions are increasing day by day.” He said, “According to the teachings of Islam, one, who kills a person, kills entire humanity and one who saves a person saves entire humanity. The killers do not follow any religion, and today through this platform we want to convey this message to our government, since we have its representative among us. And, we at our level should not rely on government for each and every thing. Instead of that we must support our government for every good cause and promotion of peace must be our top priority in order to build a prosperous and progressive society.” Mr. Arif Hameed Butt, the first chief guest of the evening expressed his views by saying that it is a beautiful conference because believers of different religions are gathered under one roof. We all must respect all the religions. He further said, “Anti government elements are spreading a rumor that four Churches will be damaged by the Orange Line project which is baseless, and such kind of rumors are frustrating our Christian brethren.” He assured that Orange Line project won’t hurt any place of worship. On this occasion he announced to be a member of Council for Interfaith Dialogue Pakistan assuring that he will carry the message to provincial and federal governments about the issues faced by non-Muslim citizens of the country. Mr. Paolo Affatato, the second chief guest termed that Muslims and Christians are like brothers and this is a reality. We all are working for the awareness of the common man and this message will reach in every corner of the world. He urged all to remain united in difficult times as well and not to give up their efforts. Talking to all the participants he said, “Your common work is for common good of the nation in order to build a better Pakistan and ultimately a better world.” Dr. Badar Munir and Mr. Anwaar-ul-Haque also shared their views about the promotion of peace and appreciated the efforts of Council for Interfaith Dialogue. The participants wowed to continue their efforts at all levels for the promotion of peace and interfaith harmony. The peace prayer of St. Francis of Assisi was recited by all the participants at the end of the conference. This interfaith peace conference began with the recitation from the Holy Quran by Allama Asghar Arif Chishti and prayer by Fr. Inayat Bernard. Pir Shafaat Rasool, the chairman of CFID welcomed chief guests in the traditional way of Punjab by garlanding them. Edward Qaisar thanked all the guests and speakers in his concluding words.