ISLAMABAD: Pakistani religious scholars and leaders across faiths on Wednesday called for integrating interfaith education into the national curricula and community policing to prevent and address communal violence.
The leaders spoke through a declaration released after an ‘Interfaith Harmony Conference’ organized by the Ministry of Religious Affairs that brought together religious leaders and representatives from various communities as well as foreign diplomats and members of civil society to discuss attacks on religious sites, desecration of holy scriptures, and the safety of minorities.
The conclave comes nearly two weeks after one of the worst incidents of communal violence in Pakistan in recent memory this month when a Muslim mob ransacked several churches and homes of Christians in the city of Jaranwala over allegations two Christian brothers had desecrated the Qur'an.
“We emphasize the importance of integrating interfaith education into educational curricula at all levels to promote a deeper understanding of various religious traditions and cultivate an atmosphere of acceptance,” a declaration passed unanimously by the participants of the interfaith conference said.
“We urge law enforcement agencies to enhance community policing efforts, preventing and promptly addressing interfaith violence and hate crimes.”
“We support peaceful mechanisms of conflict resolution, such as dialogue, mediation, and legal avenues, to address grievances and disputes among different religious communities,” the declaration added.
Addressing the conference, Caretaker Religious Affairs Minister Aneeq Ahmed said the entire nation stood with Christians against the “Jaranwala tragedy.”
“No Christian has been killed in the incident,” he said, “but we believe that what happened in Jaranwala should not have happened.”
Last week, the provincial government of Punjab province said it had approved compensation of two million rupees ($6,751.05) for each of the affected families. A 24-member committee to foster interfaith harmony was also announced by the Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) and the Church of Pakistan, comprising leaders from both the Muslim and Christian faiths.
Among the sites attacked included the historic Salvation Army Church and Saint Paul Catholic Church, three smaller churches and scores of houses. A Christian graveyard was also desecrated, residents and community leaders said, as a mob armed with iron rods, sticks, bricks, knife and daggers went on the rampage without any intervention by police and administration authorities who were present there for over 10 hours.
Blasphemy is punishable by death in Pakistan but no one has ever been executed.
Numerous people accused of blasphemy have been lynched by outraged mobs in the past. A former provincial governor and a minister for minorities were shot dead for trying to reform the blasphemy law.
