‘Interfaith harmony is the spirit of Christmas’

As the city’s Christians celebrate a sombre Christmas owing to the tragic December 17 Quetta church bombing, a delegation comprising clerics of various faiths in a bid to encourage interfaith harmony visited the Saint Patrick’s Cathedral and the Holy Trinity Church on Sunday.

At least nine people including four women were killed, while 57 were injured after a suicide bomber struck the Bethel Methodist Church in Quetta last Sunday.

Besides condemning the attack, the religious leaders agreed to work together to spread peace and prosperity throughout the country.

Allama Muhammad Ehsan Siddique, secretary general of the Interfaith Commission for Peace and Harmony (ICPH), said the world would be lightened up with peace and love if the teachings of Prophet Jesus Christ were followed.

To know how to struggle against the systematic oppression of the world,

one must read about the lives of all prophets, said Siddique.

“By organising events such as visiting worship places of different religions, or celebrating religious festivals with people of a respective faith, can eliminate or at least reduce inter and intra-religious disputes,” added the cleric.

Archbishop Joseph Coutts while addressing the gathering stated that the Christmas festival is about love, peace, harmony and brotherhood. Thanking the religious clerics on behalf of all Christians, the archbishop termed them [the clerics] messengers of peace.

“All sections of the society should stand united to get rid of terrorism and support the armed forces and all the institutions.”

Kalash Kumar, a leader of the Sikh community, in his message said all religious scholars share the Christian community’s fervour on this Christmas. “We are absolutely free to practice our religious beliefs and celebrate our festivals in Pakistan,” he said.

Among other prominent religious leaders who visited the churches were Pandit Nortan Das, Mario Mario, Father Saleh Diego, Dr Gobind, Allama Muhammad Rihan Mustafa, Pandit Sama Lal Sharma, Ravi Das Wigila, Pervez Gul, Advocate Salim Michael and Maulana Muhammad Irfan.

To promote interfaith and inter-sect harmony and to reduce hatred and intolerance, leaders from both Muslim and non-Muslim communities organise religious festivals where members of various faiths can participate and share a meal together.