Chairman Senate of Pakistan, Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, held a meeting with a delegation comprising religious leaders and representatives of international and civil society organizations to discuss the promotion of interfaith harmony, peaceful coexistence, tolerance, and social inclusion.
The delegation was led by Pastor Dr. Bob Roberts Jr., Founder, Multi-Faith Neighbors Network (MFNN), USA; Micah Fries, Director, Multi-Faith Neighbors Network (MFNN), USA; and Shahid Rehmat, Executive Director, Youth Development Foundation (YDF) and Founder, Acceptance for Inclusion (A4I), Canada and was accompanied by included Senator Khalil Tahir Sandhu, Member Senate of Pakistan.
Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani said that an inclusive society can only be built when every segment of society is given equal respect, dignity and opportunities.
Recalling his tenure as Prime Minister, he said that his government took concrete institutional measures for minorities, including the establishment of a separate Ministry for Interfaith Harmony besides a job quota for minorities. He also highlighted the importance of effective minority representation in the Senate and said that, as Chairman Senate, he established a Minority Caucus in the Senate to provide a meaningful parliamentary platform for issues concerning religious minorities and to strengthen their participation in the democratic process.
He emphasized that parliaments have a vital role in promoting mutual respect, understanding and a culture of tolerance, and expressed his commitment to using parliamentary diplomacy to advance these objectives.
He said that Pakistan's strength lies in its diversity and that all citizens, irrespective of their faith or belief, have an important role in the country's progress and development.
Chairman Gilani highlighted the important role of religious leaders, parliamentarians, civil society organizations and youth in building bridges between communities and countering intolerance, prejudice and discrimination.
The leader of the delegation, Pastor Dr. Bob Roberts Jr., appreciated Chairman Senate Gilani’s commitment to interfaith harmony and invited him to participate in the National Prayer Breakfast, scheduled to be held in Washington in the first week of February next year. The invitation was warmly received by the Chairman Senate.
The Chairman Senate welcomed greater international and institutional cooperation and expressed hope that continued dialogue and collaborative initiatives would contribute to a more peaceful, tolerant and inclusive society.
