CM Punjab meets Bishops and Fathers

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that the whole nation is grieved over the Yuhanabad tragedy. He said that enemies of peace have made a futile attempt to divide the nation through the heinous act of terrorism. He said that Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, government and the entire nation have deep sympathies with the Christian community over this worst incident of terrorism and fully share the grief of the Christian brethren. He said that terrorists have no religion and are enemies of Pakistan and it people and want to destroy its peace and harmony in the country.

The Chief Minister was talking to a representative delegation of Christian community comprising Bishops and Fathers during a meeting, here today. Provincial Minister for Home Col.(R) Shuja Khanzada, Minster for Human Rights and Minorities Affairs Khalil Tahir Sandhu, Member National Assembly Hamza Shahbaz Sharif, Members Provincial Assembly Rana Sanaullah, Zaeem Hussain Qadri, Shahzad Munshi, Shakeel Ivan, former MPA Rana Mubasher, Chief Secretary and concerned authorities were present. Bishop of Lahore Irfan Jamil, Archbishop Cathedral Church Sebastian F. Shaw, Alexander John Malik, Fr. Emmanuel Mani, Fr. Moris Jalal, Fr. Frances Gulzar, Pastor Irshad Ashiq Naz, Fr. Nadeem Frances, Dean Lahore Cathedral Rev. Shahid Meraj and other Christian leaders were present on the occasion. The Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and other participants of the meeting observed one minute’s silence for those who lost their lives in Yuhanabad tragedy. Shahbaz Sharif and the Christian delegation comprising bishops and fathers expressed the solidarity by holding their hands.

Shahbaz Sharif said that the Christian community played an active role during Pakistan movement and is also making positive efforts for the progress and development of the country. He said that the role of Christian community in education, health, defense and other sectors has been commendable. He said that Christian brethren are patriotic and peace-loving members of the society. He said that a heinous act of terrorism was committed through making a soft target of innocent worshippers at churches in Yuhanabad and this incident was highly deplorable. He said that no society can tolerate such brutality. The Chief Minister wished that had the damage to public and private property not been caused after the tragedy. He said that burning to death of two persons is highly tragic as well as condemnable as no civilized society can permit such atrocious behavior. He said that those who committed this act of cruelty will not be able to escape the law and will be brought to justice. He said that legal action will be taken against these people and they will have to face severe punishment.

Addressing the Christian delegation, the Chief Minister said that Pakistan is in a state of war and facing the most difficult challenge of its history. He said that terrorists want to divide the nation through their despicable activities but all Pakistanis including Muslims, Christians and other minorities are united for the survival and stability of the country. He said that there is a complete unity in political, military and religious leadership in the war against terrorism and a unanimous action plan has been evolved against terrorism which will help eliminate this menace from the country. He said that Pak Army is successfully forwarding operation Zarb-e-Azb against terrorists and remarkable successes have been achieved. He said that more than 50 thousand Pakistanis have lost their lives in the war against terrorism including officers and Jawans of Pak Army, police, security institutions as well as politicians, traders, Ulema and common citizens. He said that every segment of the society has been affected by negative activities of terrorists and they are targeting Pakistan and its people while mosques, Imam Bargahs, worship places of minorities, national institutions and even schools have not been spared. He said that young school going children have also been targeted by the brutal elements. He said that sacrifices of Pakistanis will not go to waste. He said that the whole nation will have to display unity and solidarity and foil every attempt at dividing the nation.

The Chief Minister further said that under National Action Plan, federal and provincial governments are moving ahead with complete harmony and effective measures have been taken speedily in Punjab with regard to its implementation. He said that amendments have been introduced in the laws and penalties have been made more stringent for wall-chalking, misuse of loudspeaker, provocative speeches and publication and distribution of objectionable literature. Shahbaz Sharif said that a fully trained Counter Terrorism Force has also been constituted which is now in the field. He said that maximum resources are being utilized in Punjab for coping with the scourge of terrorism. He said that additional topics are being included in the syllabus of educational institutions and seminaries for the elimination of terrorism and extremism through promotion of sentiments of tolerance and brotherhood in the society. Shahbaz Sharif further said that the menace of extremism, terrorism and sectarianism has not taken roots in the society overnight nor it will go away easily. He said that effective and persistent measures are required to tackle this problem. He said that Punjab government is taking all possible steps for rooting out terrorism and extremism.

The Chief Minister expressed the hope that efforts to eradicate terrorism will succeed with the grace of Allah Almighty and Pakistan will emerge as an Islamic welfare state in accordance with the vision of Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Muhammad Iqbal.

The Chief Minister further said that every member of the society will have to play his role for the promotion of the sentiments of tolerance and restraint so that the menace of terrorism and extremism could be curbed. He said that no religion permits intolerance, violence and aggressive attitude and it is also the message of Jesus Christ to display patience and tolerance and to live peacefully. He also thanked Christian community for its cooperation over the incident of Yuhanabad. He said that cabinet committee on peace and his other colleagues played a positive role in the proper handling of the issue for which he is grateful to them. He said that cabinet committee on law and order and administration should remain fully alert so that such incidents could be avoided in future. He said that the message of restraint, tolerance and justice should be given from the mosques, Imam Bargahs and other places of worship as it is the need of the hour for foiling the nefarious designs of the enemies. He said that every person living in Pakistan is Pakistani and a joint investigation team has been constituted with regard to the tragic incident at Yuhanabad which will fulfill the demands of justice and the guilty persons will be brought to the law.

Bishop of Lahore Irfan Jamil, Archbishop of Cathedral Church Sebastian F. Shaw, Alexander John Malik, Fr. Emmanuel Mani, Fr. Moris Jalal, Fr. Frances Gulzar, Pastor Irshad Ashiq Naz, Fr. Nadeem Frances, Dean Lahore Cathedral Rev. Shahid Meraj and other Christian leaders while expressing their views strongly condemned Yuhanabad tragedy. They also deplored the incident of ransacking and violence after the incident and assured that all possible cooperation will be extended to prevent such incidents in future. They said that Pakistan is their home and collective efforts will be made for its protection. They said that Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has taken personal interest in helping Christian community in the hour of need and settled the issues in a proper manner. They said that Pakistan is the target of terrorists and there is a need to identify the enemies.

They said that although protest is the constitutional right of citizens but no one can be allowed to take the law in his own hands. They also condemned the incident of ransacking and burning of two human beings to death. They said that the perpetrators of this brutal act must be punished. They assured that every effort will be made for the strength and stability of the country. Provincial Ministers Khalil Tahir Sandhu, Col.(R) Shuja Khanzada, Member National Assembly Hamza Shahbaz Sharif, Member Provincial Assembly Rana Sanaullah and others also expressed their views on the occasion.