Govt praised for efforts to reconstruct damaged Jaranwala church

WASHINGTON: Director of All Neighbors, an organization working for interfaith harmony in Washington, Ilyas Masih here expressed appreciation for the solidarity shown by the Pakistani nation toward its Christian community after the Jaranwala incident.

At a meeting with Pakistan’s ambassador to the USA Masood Khan, he also commended the efforts of the government and other stakeholders in the reconstruction of the church and property vandalized by a mob.

The delegation said that All Neighbors was planning to organize a conference on religious freedom in Pakistan in April this year.

This will l promote inter-religious harmony besides presenting the true image of Pakistan at the international level.

Speaking on the occasion, the ambassador said protection of rights of minorities is ensured in the constitution of Pakistan. Moreover, he added, the people of Pakistan were, in general, also tolerant and respected the religious freedom of other communities.

In the wake of the unfortunate incident in Jaranwala, the reaction of political, religious and other leadership showed the country’s desire for interfaith harmony, said Ambassador Khan.

He was of the view that Pakistan is a peace-loving country and majority of its population always held moderate views on different religious values and discourages extremist thinking found in any corner of the world