KP minister calls for promoting interfaith harmony

MANSEHRA: Stressing the need for promoting interfaith harmony, Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousuf on Sunday urged youngsters to avoid engaging in religious debates on social media and in public life.

“The cases of sacrilegious remarks on social media have increased in recent years and citizens regardless of their school of thought or religious affiliation should respect each other’s faith and refrain from debating controversial issues,” he told reporters here.

He emphasised that the belief in the finality of Prophethood as sealed by Allah through Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) was a fundamental of Islam.

“If a person does not believe that Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) is the last and final messenger of Allah, he couldn’t claim to be a Muslim,” Yousuf said.

He also urged parents to closely monitor their children’s use of social media.

“The United Nations observes March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia. Every citizen, regardless of creed or faith, should pledge to spread the true teachings of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be upon Him),” he added.

The federal minister said that the Ministry of Religious Affairs had established a web portal on its website where individuals could report sacrilegious visual or written content.

“We have been ensuring that no one involved in uploading sacrilegious content on social media escapes justice. People should lodge their complaints through our ministry’s website,” he added.