ISLAMABAD: Special adviser to the prime minister on Interfaith Harmony and the Middle East, Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi, said a 16-member committee comprising members from several minority communities had been formed to tackle issues of interfaith violence, adding that no one would be allowed to harm minorities in Pakistan.
Campaigners say forced conversion and marriage of girls and women from minority religions, including Hindus and Christians, is a growing problem in Muslim-majority Pakistan, with those from poor families and low castes largely targeted.
In 2019, the alleged abduction and forced conversion of two Hindu sisters made headlines in Pakistan when a video of their marriages was shared widely on social media.
Pakistan’s minority Shia Muslims regularly come under attack by militant groups. Members of its small Hindu and Christian communities have also been attacked.
“Ashrafi said that a 16-member committee including Sikh, Hindu and Christian members had been formed under his supervision to settle interfaith violence issues,” state-run APP reported, adding that the body’s first meeting would be held in Lahore on December 4. “We will also meet leaders of all religions to settle their issues.”
Ashrafi said no one would be allowed to hurt minorities in Pakistan in the name of religion.
“Interfaith Harmony Council and Muttahida Ulema Board (MUB) held a meeting at the center on Sunday in which all members expressed their satisfaction over religious freedom in Pakistan,” APP reported. “Ashrafi said that whenever minority communities faced some issue, the MUB always tried to solve it in consultation with all stakeholders, adding that around 127 cases of alleged forcible marriages and conversion of religion, etc., were presented before the MUB in 2020 and all of those were resolved amicably.”
“Islam strictly prohibits forced marriages and forced conversions,” the news wire quoted Ashrafi as saying.
The PM’s aide also said it was the responsibility of all Muslims to protect the rights of minorities.
“The leadership of all religious schools of thought in Pakistan was united that the rights of minorities would be protected at all levels,” Ashrafi added.
Pakistan sets up 16-member council to tackle violence between Muslims, minorities
https://arab.news/phn3j
Pakistan sets up 16-member council to tackle violence between Muslims, minorities
- Committee comprising Sikh, Hindu and Christian members formed under supervision of PM’s aide on interfaith harmony
- Ashrafi says around 127 cases of alleged forcible marriages and religious conversion were “resolved amicably” in 2020
Pakistan, Oman navies discuss maritime security, ink agreement to share shipping data
- Visiting Oman royal navy commander calls on Pakistan Naval Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf in Islamabad
- White shipping agreement refers to exchange of prior information on movement of commercial ships
ISLAMABAD: The naval commanders of Pakistan and Oman discussed regional maritime security on Wednesday and signed an agreement to share shipping information with each other, the Pakistan Navy said in a statement.
The press release followed a meeting between Pakistan Naval Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf and the visiting Oman Royal Navy Commander Rear Admiral Saif Bin Nasser Bin Mohsin Al Rahbi at Naval Headquarters in Islamabad.
Both navies maintain close professional relations, reflected in expert-level staff talks, joint training, bilateral exercises, and participation in multilateral exercises between the Pakistan Navy and the Royal Navy of Oman.
“During the meeting, matters of mutual interest, regional maritime security and bilateral naval cooperation were discussed,” the Pakistan Navy said.
The MoU was signed by both sides at a ceremony at the Naval Headquarters, the navy’s media wing confirmed.
“The MoU is aimed at establishing of guidelines and procedures for information sharing in order to enhance mutual awareness of white shipping,” the Pakistan Navy said in a statement.
White shipping agreement refers to the exchange of prior information on the movement and identity of commercial non-military merchant vessels.
Information regarding the identity of vessels helps countries tackle potential threats from sea routes. This particularly helps in the development of a proper regional maritime domain awareness
The statement said Al Rahbi lauded Pakistan Navy’s professionalism and acknowledged its ongoing contributions to maritime security and regional stability.
Pakistan and Oman share geographical proximity and common maritime boundaries. Bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries span a wide range of areas, including economic cooperation, people-to-people contacts and strong defense ties.
In December, a Royal Navy flotilla from Oman visited Karachi to take part in the annual bilateral Thamar Al Tayyib (TAT) 2025 exercise.
Pakistan Navy and the Royal Navy of Oman have been conducting the TAT series of exercises regularly since 1980.
