PPP always took practical steps for minorities uplift: Gilani
LAHORE, Nov. 15 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has said that all the PPP governments took practical steps, which were never taken by any other regime, for welfare, prosperity, betterment and raising social status of the minority communities in Pakistan. He was addressing an international seminar on “Sikh-Muslim Sanjh Tareekh Ke Aaine Wich” organised by Diyal Singh Reseach and Cultural Forum (DSRCF) at a local hotel on Tuesday. Evacue Trust Property Board (ETPB) Chairman Syed Asif Hashmi, Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee Pakistan’s (SGPC) President Sardar Sham Singh, SGPC India President Sardar Rampal Singh, Sardar Gurmeet Singh form USA, Sardar Manmohan Singh Khalsa from UK and the DSRCF Director Prof. Ehsan H. Nadeem also spoke on the occasion.
The Prime Minister said, the PPP-led democratic government believes in interfaith harmony. PPP is a progressive and enlightened party and its manifesto
 particularly mentions that followers of other faiths are citizens of Pakistan and
 enjoy equal rights under the Constitution, he added.
 He said the present government had completed many development projects through special funds in the minorities’ areas.
 Gilani also congratulated the entire Sikh community on the 543rd birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak and welcomed them to Pakistan. He said, “The
 people of Pakistan especially of the Punjab extend warm welcome to you on your
 arrival here, and they pray for your safe return after your visit to holy places and the performance of your religious rituals in peaceful environment. I am sure you must have got spiritual satisfaction in the real sense during your stay here.”
 He said, PPP founding leader Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had strived for equality of humanity by erasing the line between haves and have-nots in South
 Asia. While, Mohtrama Benazir Bhutto Shaheed also laid down her life for the sake
 of poor people of Pakistan by treading the path of peace and human friendship.
 The Prime Minister said, “We believe in friendly relations with all the neighbouring countries in the region. We want negotiated settlement of all issues
 with our neighbour India. Once peace is established in the region, South Asia
 will be able to get rid of poverty, diseases, injustice and ignorance.”
 The Pakistan’s Commerce Ministry, he said, has initiated the process of
dialogue for balance of trade and to grant Most Favoured Nation (MFN) Status to
 India, and the negotiation between the commerce secretaries of both countries are underway in New Delhi.
 Gilani said, “Recently, I have had a very successful meeting with Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in Maldives. We agreed that negotiation is the way out to resolve all out-standing issues.”
 Personalities like Baba Guru Nanak are rarely born, he said, asserting, hundreds of religions exist in the world today and the essential message of each religion is the promotion of peace and love.
 The Prime Minister said, “Today we are in need of religious tolerance which was
 propagated by Baba Guru Nanak, who accepted “Oneness of God” as the ultimate
 truth and traveled all the four corners of the world to spread this message. He
 went to Tibet, holy cities of Makka and Madina. A memorial in Baghdad today has
 a name of “Nanak Faqeer” written on it.” He cited that refusal to wear Zunar was
 Baba Guru’s first declaration of belief in Oneness of God or Monotheism.
 He said, Punjabi literature and history also owes its development to his contribution when he traveled far and wide in such places as Pakpattan and Tibba Baba Nanak to collect the kalam of Baba Farid-ud-Din Gunj Shakar (RA). He saved this ‘kalam’ for good in Gru Garnth Sahib.
Baba Guru Nanak rejected hatred and ignited the candles of peace and hope. On the one hand, Baba Guru Nanak would keep Baba Mardana, a Muslim, with
 him but also collect the ‘kalam’ of Baba Farid Gunj Shakar on the other. Mian Mir
 would live in Lahore and Guru Arjun Gee took this Muslim saint with him to
 Amrister to make him lay the foundation stone of the shrine. When Hindu Pahari
 Rajas initiated a war against Gru Gouband Gee, Pir Bhadhu Shah sided with Guru sahib along with his army. Hundreds of soldiers including two of his sons got martyred in this fight.
 The Prime Minister said that Sikh and the Muslims are true heirs to legacy and culture of Punjab, adding, “We have common language, common songs, common professions, common dresses and common festivals such as Visaakhi.” As in
 our social structure of Punjab, the neighbours are dearer to the relatives, and they stand by one another and share their happiness and grief. Both Pakistan and India need to play the same role, which can guarantee peace in the region, he maintained.
 The Prime Minister appreciated the DSRCF’s efforts to promote an atmosphere of peace and love in the region, besides, maintaining high standard of research. Such cultural programmes and seminars can be instrumental in bringing the peoples of both countries closer together.
 The Prime Minister also announced Rs 10 million grant for the Forum and hoped that it would continue to make efforts to further strengthen interfaith harmony and keep advancing the mission of Sikh-Muslim friendship.
 He said, the Sikh community always has good sentiments towards Pakistan and “We hold these feelings of goodwill in high esteem. Together, we must advance
 the shared mission and values of Baba Guru Nanak and Baba Farid.”
 The Prime Minister also directed the ETPB to make arrangements for foundation-stone of Baba Guru Nanak University and “I would like to perform the foundation-laying of the University myself.”