News
Sunday, August 12, 2012
APMA-F chief vows to promote religious harmony
* Pervez Rafique pays tributes to Benazir Bhutto, Salmaan Taseer, Shahbaz Bhatti for services to democracy
Staff Report
KARACHI: All Pakistan Minorities Alliance-Founders (APMA-F) chief and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) MPA in Punjab Assembly, Pervez Rafique vowed on Saturday to continue efforts for discouraging religious extremism and promoting harmony among all religious communities in the country.
He expressed these views while addressing APMA-F workers at mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah that he visited to pay tribute to the founder of the nation in connection with Minorities Day celebrations. Anwar Lal Deen, Special Assistant to Sindh Chief Minister, and others were also present on the occasion.
He said the minorities believe in equality of religious, constitutional and economic rights for all religious communities in the country. He vowed to support the present government’s policy to run the country according to Quaid-e-Azam’s vision. The PPP lawmaker said that he believed in Quaid’s vision under which all people living in this country would have equal opportunities without any discrimination on basis of religion, colour and caste.
He thanked and appreciated the present government and President Asif Ali Zardari for steps taken for minorities, including allocation of four percent seats in the Senate for first time in the country and allocation of five percent job quota for minorities in all federal government departments besides the cabinet’s decision to increase minorities’ seats in national and provincial assemblies.
Rafique said the minorities would continuously play their role for peace and prosperity of the country which they had played during creation of the country.
On the occasion, he paid tribute to Benazir Bhutto, Salmaan Taseer and Shahbaz Bhatti for their sacrifices and services rendered for democracy, discouraging religious extremism, promotion of religious harmony and equal rights to minorities. He also vowed to continuously strive for abolishment of all discriminatory laws in the country.Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk