Punjab Government to observe tolerance day on Friday

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that burning of houses of innocent Christian brethren, by anti-social elements in Joseph Colony Badami Bagh is an inhuman and reprehensible act, which has damaged the image of the country, at the international level. He said Punjab government is taking effective action against culprits, involved in this incident, who will not be spared at all. He said that Punjab government has decided to observe a Tolerance Day tomorrow on Friday, under a unanimous decision taken by Punjab government, Ulema and Mushaikh to create religious harmony, peace and brotherhood among Muslims and followers of other religions.

Chief Minister was presiding over a high-level meeting to review pace of rehabilitation work of the affectees of Badami Bagh incident at Model Town today. Senator Pervaiz Rashid, Senator Kamran Michael, Provincial Minister for Education Mian Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman, MNA Hamza Shahbaz Sharif, Members Assembly, Chief Secretary, Inspector General Police Punjab, Secretaries Home and Law, Additional IG Special Branch and other concerned authorities were present on the occasion.

Addressing the meeting Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said that construction and repair work of burnt houses and Churches of Joseph Colony Badami Bagh is continuing expeditiously, while handing over of repaired houses to the affectees would be initiated from tomorrow. Chief Minister directed police authorities to immediately arrest all culprits, nominated in the FIR. He said difficulties and problems of affectees are being resolved on priority basis.

Chief Minister directed that Members Assembly and administrative officers would remain in relief camps to ensure help and rehabilitation of the affectees. He further directed that availability of medicines in abundance in relief camps should be ensured. He said repair work of burnt houses should be further expedited while repair of churches should be completed on priority basis, by working day and night. He said Pakistan belongs to all of us and its protection is our collective responsibility. He said the Tolerance Day is being observed tomorrow, throughout Punjab to promote forbearance and brotherhood in the society. He said that the Tolerance Day is aimed at creating patience, forbearance, peace and brotherhood among various segments of the society and there is a need for a new social contract. He said that attitude of intolerance has distorted the society, and there is a dire need to introduce reforms to remove shortcomings in the society.

During the meeting, Chief Minister was given a detailed briefing on rehabilitation work of Joseph Colony Badami Bagh, while IG Police informed the Chief Minister about progress in arresting the culprits involved in the case.