Karachi: Academics, human rights activists, government officials and civil society members at a seminar here on Thursday expressed serious concern over increasing intolerance in the society and underlined the need for the promotion of Interfaith harmony for the eradication of extremism.

The seminar on “Interfaith Harmony in Sindh” was organized by The Knowledge Forum (TKF) in consultation with the Sindh Madressatul Islam University at the university premises. MPA Ms Mangla Sharma; Secretary of Human Rights Department, Government of Sindh, Ms. Noreen Bashir; Bishop of Karachi and Balochistan Mr. Frederick John; Prof. Dr. Zahid Ali Chanar, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences at SMIU; Dr. Subhash Guriro from Social Development Faculty of SMIU; Prof. Dr. Shahzad Channa from Regional Dawah Centre of International Islamic University, Islamabad; Prof. Dr. Jahan Ara Lutif from Sheikh Zayed Islamic Centre. University of Karachi; Ms. Naghma Shaikh and Shujauddin Qureshi from TKF were the main speakers.

Ms. Mangla Sharma, MPA said Sindh province has a credit to have peaceful society, where people from different faiths have been living in peace for centuries. “I used to study Islamiat in my school and my children have also read it,” she said adding that some anti-social elements are spreading violent extremism in the society.

Ms. Noreen Bashir, Secretary of the Human Rights department, the government of Sindh asked the students to work for spreading tolerance and peace in the society. She said “we are living in a challenging times as Pakistani society is so polarized”. However, she said social media has provided opportunities to work for peace in society.

She said Islam’s message of Huqooqul Ibad is a message of human rights. Islam teaches morality, patience, respect for other religions and understanding. Dr. Jahan Ara Lutfi said Islam is religion of peace. “We have to move forward towards one-point agenda of spreading the message of Interfaith Harmony for lasting peace in Pakistan?

She said Holy Quran is addressing to the human being not alone to Muslims as God has bestowed every human being with all the blessings without any discrimination. Prof. Dr. Shahzad Channa from Karachi’s Regional Centre of Dawah Academy, International Islamic University, and Islamabad said intolerance is a poison, which affects the entire society. He asked the students to learn from

“Accept each other and respect all the faiths, this would increase peace and harmony in the society,” he remarked.

Bishop Fredrick John recalled the Christian history and its evolution in the Europe. He said diversity is not a curse but it is a beauty. He said in the start there was no religion but only the humanity, which means humanity is more ancient than the religion. Prof. Dr. Zahid Ali Chanar, Dean Faculty of Social Sciences at SMIU said every religion is teaching tolerance.