Pakistan to make efforts to ease US-Iran tension: Governor Chaudhry Sarwar

LAHORE:Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar has said that United Nations Organisation (UNO) and Muslim Ummah must play their role in averting US-Iran war, as it will be more destructive than Iraq war.

The hysteria of war must be given an end and whatever a country is powerful all should respect each other’s integrity. In Sha Allah, all the minorities in Pakistan will fully be protected as per commandment of Quaid-i-Azam. Ensuring protection to minorities’ lives and properties is the government’s top priority and no leniency will be tolerated in this regard.

The governor expressed these views while addressing the International Conference on Punjab History and Culture at University of Lahore (UoL) and later talking to media here Monday.

UoL Vice-Chancellor Kamran Mujahid and others were also present.

Chaudhry Sarwar said that war had never been a solution to problems rather it intensified terrorism and extremism, which claimed innocent lives. I am proud that as a member of British Parliament, I had been opposing and raising voice against wars in Afghanistan and Iraq in the British Parliament.

I think if war breaks out between US and Iran, it will have dangerous consequences and peace will become a dream in the world; therefore, international community must play its effective role in resolving this issue, and Pakistan will also do its best possible to ease the tension between America and Iran.

Addressing the conference, Punjab Governor said that today, tourism is the biggest industry in the world, and first time in Pakistan, a Committee on Religious Tourism and Culture under his chairmanship is actively working to promote religious tourism. Pakistan gave a peace message to the world through Kartarpur Corridor Project that is also promoting the tourism. After renovation of Sikh worship places, the focus will be laid on Buddhism and people from across the world will be attracted towards Pakistan through religious tourism. He cited that by focusing on Maryam Abad, Christians from other countries would visit Pakistan and steps were also being taken in this regard. He said that hate speech by an individual in Nankana Sahib hurt him; however, Prime Minister had taken strict notice of the incident and sent Federal Interior Minister Brig (R) Ijaz Ahmed Shah to Nankana Sahib, while Chief Minister Usman Buzdar sent Senior Provincial Minister Mian Mehmood-ur-Rasheed there to look into the matter. The person, who delivered hate speech, has been arrested and will be taken to task as per the law of the land.

No one will be allowed to take the law into hand and there is no doubt in it that it is government’s responsibility to protect lives and properties of minority communities living in Pakistan.

Today, minorities are safer in Pakistan than rest of the world but it is very unfortunate to say that India is targeting the minorities through controversial Citizenship Act. Narendra Modi is planning minorities’ genocide through RSS and in addition to Kashmiris, the minorities living in India were also being deprived of their rights. The world community must take notice of the inhuman acts by India in Held Kashmir and its laws based on racism and ethnicity.