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Muslim
Christian Dialogue Forum (MCDF) was established on Monday,
November, 9, 1998 to promote religious tolerance between Muslims
and Christians so that they could work for the promotion of peace,
human rights, and democracy.
The
forum was set up at a round-table conference, in which Muslims and
Christian religious leaders were invited by the Pakistan Awami
Tehreek (PAT) Chairman Dr. Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri.
The
conference, attended by noted Bishops, fathers and Christians and
Muslim religious leaders, through a unanimous resolution demanded
Joint electorate system as provided in the constitution, prior to
the 8th amendment. Saying the Constitution already
provided the supremacy of Quran and Sunnah, the participants of
the conference rejected the 15th Amendment Bill.
The
participants demanded immediate removal of sense of insecurity
among the minorities, elimination of discrimination, provision of
fundamental rights and an improvement in the status of human
rights, provided to all communities of Pakistan.
The
said positive role of Christians, in establishment of Pakistan and
its development, must be acknowledged as the sacrifices offered by
them were not less than that of Muslims. For the first time in the
country’s history a dialogue was offered from the platform of a
majority party, said Samuel Azariah,
adding it was a historic day for Pakistan and all its communities.
He appealed to all Pakistanis to eliminate discrimination in
religious affairs for the prosperity of the country. He said
Christians were Pakistanis as Muslims, and deserved equal rights
as guaranteed in the Constitution. |

The conference was chaired by Dr. Muhammad
Tahir-ul-Qadri and participated by Bishop
Bona Vaneer, chairperson Bishop Conference, Hyderabad, Bishop
Samuel Robert Azariah, Moderator Bishop Church and Bishop
of Raiwind, Arthur James,
Group Capt Retd Cecil Chaudhry, Kanwal
Feroze, Joseph Francis,
general secretary, Pakistan Christian Party, Shahaz
Bhatti, president Christian Liberation Front, Yunis
Rahi Peter Jacob, Father James
Channan of Rawalpindi, John Samuel
of Diocese Church Faisalabad, Dr. George
William, Administrator UCH, Edgar B
Ram, Ms Mona Lisa, Rozina
Warne, Samson Joseph, and Rega
Francis.
PAT stood by
Christian brethren at this hour of grief, Says Dr Qadri
(Click
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