Interfaith prayer service for martyrs of Data Darbar took place in Sialkot

Sialkot, Pakistan: July 21, 2010, (PCTV Newsdesk)

Sialkot (Javed Gull & Pervez Yousaf) July 06, 2010: The National Council for Interfaith Dialogue, Pakistan organized an interfaith prayer service for the martyrs and victims of Data Darbar as a result of suicidal attack on July 01, 2010.  53 innocent people were martyred and more than a hundred received injuries in that tragedy. A number of Muslim, Christian, Hindu and Sikh citizens including religious scholars and heads of madrassas of Sialkot were present on this occasion. 

The service began with the prayer by Hafiz Abid Hussain qadri.  Afterwards, expressing his views he asserted this suicidal attack as an act of cowardice and said that the people involved in this attack do not deserve any sort of favor and sympathy. It is a considerate moment for the whole nation that terrorists ignored honor and dignity of Data Darbar and attacked on it.  There is an urgent need of unity among the followers of all the beliefs.  It is a duty of the government to protect the places of worships of all the religions. 

Shams Raj recited supplication according his creed.  He said that this attack was not on Data Darbar, it is an attack on the whole humanity.

After reciting prayer, Rajinder Singh said that culprits must be punished as soon as possible.

Parish priest of Adha remarked that after attacking the Ahmadi’s place of worship terrorists have attacked on Data Darbar, we need to stand united so that we may get rid of the enemy of peace.

Pastor Aslam said we pray for the wounded and relatives of martyrs that Almighty grant them courage to bear this irreparable loss.

Khadim Hussain said that terrorists do not follow any religion they are the killers of humanity.

Parish priest of Pasroor Fr. Emmanuel Bernard said that there is no other message for the comfort and satisfaction except a prayer.  In order to restore peace in our society we have to get rid of the poverty, unjust and illiteracy.

Syed Tariq Shah said that Christian community always comes forward in case of any natural or man-made disaster which is a significant symbol of religious tolerance.  Like our Hindu community always cooperate with us in any sort of difficult situation.

Tariq Malik said that Islam is a religion of love and peace.  Murder of one person is meant to be the murder of the whole humanity.

Expressing his views advocate Waseem said that Data Sahib always advised for peace.  How regretful terrorists have not spared the shrine of this great mystic of the region.

Fr. Afzaal Iqbal commented that we need to take practical measures to stop the wave of terrorism and to restore peace around us.

Thanking the participants of prayer service Fr. Francis Nadeem said all of us are believers of different religions have gathered here to express solidarity with our Muslim brothers.  It is the time to make an effective policy to control this uproar and bloodshed.  How surprising that our politicians remember and approach some religious scholars whenever a tragedy takes place in the country.  They conduct seasonal talks with them which is insufficient for restoration of peace.  He demanded the government of Pakistan to include leaders of all the religions in these talks so that and effective policy could be developed to bring peace in the country.  He said that security is provided only to the ministers and politicians whereas places of worships are ignored.  He demanded the government to provide fool proof security measures to the places of worships of all the religions.

At the end all the participants recited a joint prayer for the martyrs and restoration of peace 

Javed Gull, Babu Akhtar Ramzan Jan Nisar, Francis Saael, Malik Sarfraz, Malik Shams Pervaiz, Haroon Sabir, Qaisar Ghouri, Basharat Gill, Babu Patras William, Babu Patras Asi, Chaudhry Khalid and many other representatives of different religions were also present on this occasion.