Minority leaders lauds PM Nawaz Sharif for attending Dewali function

Lahore: Minority leaders across the country Wednesday praised Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif for his vow to protect rights of the minorities at all cost as they all enjoy equal rights like rest of the citizens.
The minority leaders were commenting on the prime minister’s address to Dewali ceremony in the commercial hub of the country, Karachi on Wednesday where he categorically said he would stand by the minorities and would ensure protection of their rights guaranteed under the Constitution.

Punjab Minister for Minorities Affairs & Human Rights Khalil Tahir Sindhu said Nawaz Sharif’s participation in Dewali event showed the government’s resolve for the welfare of the minorities.
He said in contrast to Indian prime minister Narendra Modi’s policy under which minorities were being subjected to a miserable treatment, Nawaz Sharif made a gesture by reiterating his commitment to protect rights of the minorities. The Indian government should emulate his example by taking measures for the protection of minorities in India.

He also appreciated the views expressed by the prime minister about forging unity among all the communities and said that minorities were being given due respect by the government.

Sindhu endorsed the statement of the prime minister for welfare of the minorities and said that all out resources would be utilized for the purpose.
Commenting on Nawaz Sharif’s speech in Karachi, Hindu leader Dr Manohar Chand said the prime minister had recognized the services of the Hindu community which demonstrated that the government gave equal respect to all the religious communities living in Pakistan.

He said the premier’s assurance about safeguarding the rights of the minorities gave strength and a sense of security to the minorities.

The Hindu leader welcomed the announcement about the construction of Bhagat Kunwar Medical Complex in Hyderabad by the prime minister and thanked him.
Sikh religious leader Sardar Sham Singh welcomed prime minister’s announcement for the renovation of Guru Nanak Gurdwara in Nankana Sahib.
He said his government was already doing a lot for the minorities
including the Sikh community and the decision to renovate of Guru
Nanak Gurdwara was also part of it.

Sardar Sham Singh lauded the assurance of protection to theminorities by the Prime Minister and said it gave them a lot relief and removed their concerns.
He said the government always made foolproof security arrangements for the Sikh and Hindu Yatrees who came for the religious services from foreign countries as well as far-flung areas.

Minority communities including Hindu and Sikh in Peshawar said that the prime minister’s commitment would spread a message of interfaith harmony and bring people of different faith more closure to each others.

Talking to APP, Sardar Soran Singh, Advisor to the Chief Minister KP for Minority Affairs said, PM’s in “Dewali” gave a very positive message to all that he gives equal importance to minorities irrespective of their religion and caste.

Soran Singh said the presence of Prime Minister among the Hindu community conveyed a strong message that minorities are equally important for him as are Muslims. It also gave a moral boost to minority communities besides adding
color to their joys. He deplored that the minorities including Muslims and Sikh are being subjected to victimization and torture in India under the leadership of Narendra Modi while on the other hand Nawaz Sharif showed his leadership by attending sharing joys of Hindu minority in the country.

He noted that the discriminatory treatment with minorities inIndia has resulted in defeat of BJP in Behar elections. It wastime for Moodi and his party to realize that government cannot be run with force or by persecution of minorities as their own
people have rejected this policy.

Meanwhile, Soran Singh condemned recent incidents of violence against minorities and with Pakistanis visiting India including singer Ghulam Ali, veteran politician Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri andurged the international community to take notice of human rights violations in India.

Haroon Sarabiyal, Chairman All Hindus Rights Movement ofPakistan highly lauded the participation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Hindu’s Dewali function and said it gave them a realizationthat Prime Minister of Pakistan is committed to look after them.
He said despite his busy schedule, the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has spared time and attended Dewali function in Karachi which reflected his sincerity and commitment to the minorities.

Sarabiyal said the present government has taken scores of measures for uplift of minorities. He said the recent incidents of violence against minorities and Pakistan nationals in India negated claims of Indian’s secularism. He said minorities including Hindus and Sikh community are enjoying religious freedom in Pakistan and was playing key role in development of the country.
He said a grand function in connection of Dewali celebrations
would be arranged at Hindus temple at Gorgatri Peshawar on November14 where people of every walk life, would be invited to celebrate this event with them.