Democracy promotes tolerance, spirit of harmony: Gilani
ISLAMABAD, Nov 16 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday said democracy provides the conducive conditions within which people, having different set of ideas, agendas and belief systems can sit across the table in a spirit of harmony and tolerance and explore commonalities to ensure their well-being. In a message on International Day of Tolerance, the Prime Minister said, “the day provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the dangers of intolerance and immoderation, posed to global peace, harmony and social equilibrium.” He said International Day of Tolerance, being observed around the world on Wednesday, draws attention to the imperative of promoting tolerance and respect for each others beliefs and rights.
 The United Nations, through its resolution 51/95, asked the member states to observe November 16 as the International Day of Tolerance. The member states of UNESCO adopted the Declaration of Principles on Tolerance on November 16, 1995. The day was declared as an international observance on the initiative of UNESCO.
 The Prime Minister said all heads of states and governments demonstrated their commitment in a world summit held to promote and advance progress, human welfare, freedom and foster dialogue, respect and engagement among different cultures and civilizations.
 Tolerance and respect for dissent is a building block for construction of a civilized and peaceful society, he said adding in an environment marked by violence, strife, extremism and terrorism, there is an urgent need to promote tolerance and engagement, so vital to peaceful co-existence among nations and societies.
 It allows people to form consensus and move ahead on the basis of mutual interests, so democracy and tolerance are integral to each other, he said, adding the negative attitudes such as intolerance and violence proliferate in an environment in which people’s voice has been muzzled and their fundamental rights trampled upon by the undemocratic forces.  
 Gilani said humanity has shared stakes in future and it just does not afford to allow a handful of bigoted minority of extremists driven by their radicalised ideology to hijack shared values of accommodation, pluralism, tolerance, peace and love.
“In our efforts to make this world a worth living place for our posterity, there is a need to encourage harmony, engagement, and interfaith dialogue among the followers of different cultures and civilizations.”
 The Prime Minister said media and educational institutions have their job cut out for them and they can play immensely important role in inculcating the values of tolerance and respect for each other’s beliefs.
 “Let us, on this day, vow to re-double our efforts to eradicate negative attitudes such as injustice, oppression, racism, violence and discrimination and make this world a peaceful place,” he added.