News
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Interfaith dialogue must for world peace: Fehmida
* NA speaker says peace can’t prevail if nations are kept subjugated
* Islam provided first charter of human rights
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza said on Wednesday that interfaith dialogue was necessary for world peace and reiterated the need for engaging parliamentarians from the east and west into interfaith dialogue for creating better understanding between nations and religions to counter the philosophy of the clash of civilisations.
While addressing the 2nd Extraordinary Session of the Parliamentary Union of Islamic Countries (PUIC) in UAE, Dr Fehmida said the issues being deliberated at the meeting related to those primarily affecting the Muslim Ummah.
She said the right to peaceful use of nuclear technology and the sovereign right to self-determination, self-rule and freedom to all nations of the world under the UN Charter, were some of the vital questions that merited urgent attention of the parliamentary forum.
Dr Fehmida said that peace could not prevail if nations were kept subjugated and denied freedom. Therefore, durable peace and stability could only be achieved by finding amicable solutions of all outstanding disputes on the basis of international law, she stated.
The speaker called for peaceful solutions to Kashmir, Palestine and other international and regional disputes. She said that Pakistan not only fully supported the Arab Peace Plan but also expected from forums like the PUIC to provide effective means to address “the root-causes of continued unrest and violence”. Dr Fehmida said that world peace was undeniably linked with universal progress, prosperity and development of the entire humanity without any prejudice or bias.
She said that Islam provided the first universal charter of human rights that guarantees civil liberties to citizens irrespective of racial, religious, cultural and gender considerations. She said that the message of equality and brotherhood, as enshrined in our great religion, provides the basis for stability and creates an “all-inclusive” and healthy society. As torchbearers of these ideals all PUIC members should jointly strive to promote tolerance, peaceful co-existence and harmony among different communities, including minorities, she added.
Dr Fehmida said, “Chronic challenges of poverty, hunger, disease and unemployment will continue to hinder the path of world peace unless addressed jointly.”
She said that during the parliamentary discourse numerous challenges had been identified which solicited a common roadmap to address them. She said that she firmly believed that the PUIC could help us in achieving the same if it was strengthened and reformed in the light of the emerging realities.
She said Pakistan was committed to peaceful use of technology, including nuclear, as per the UN Charter and other universally agreed conventions. Therefore, use of any form of technology for the good and welfare of human beings and societies should not be restricted.
Dr Fehmida said that terrorism had crippled many of our societies and had tarnished the true message of our great religion. She called for a joint strategy for a platform to dispel the impression.
Dr Fehmida said the constitution of Pakistan guaranteed equal rights to all its citizens and provided for special provisions for the protection of minorities. “There is a sizeable representation of different religious groups at all tiers of federal and provincial legislatures and governments.”
She said that PUIC could prove to be an ideal platform to promote the dictums of parliamentary diplomacy, “through which the parliamentarians can have a better understanding of the others’ points of views”.
“As speakers and presiding officers of our respective legislatures, we can forge links to support each other and strengthen the developing parliamentary institutions across the Muslim world,” she said.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk