All religions treated, respected evenly in Pakistan: Noor-ul-Haq Qadri

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Dr Noor-ul-Haq Qadri on Friday said all religions in Pakistan were treated equally and their followers were respected, ARY News reported.

Dr Noor-ul-Haq Qadri said this in a meeting with US Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback in Islamabad while demanding from the United States to remove Pakistan’s name from its blacklist of countries that violate religious freedom.

The religious affairs minister said Pakistan’s constitution ensures religious freedom and rights of minorities.

Read More: US ambassador briefed on govt’s policies on religious freedom

“Islam teaches mutual harmony, love and peace, and all minorities in the country enjoy complete freedom,” he said adding that in presence of free judiciary and active media there was no concept of prejudice against any religion or ideology.

He said Pakistan’s legislature assemblies had representation of every religion. However, he admitted that some countries did hurt religious sentiments in the name of freedom of expression.

Noor-ul-Haq Qadri said blasphemous caricatures damaged international peace efforts.

He said incorporation of Pakistan in the blacklist of the countries that violate religious freedom was unjustifiable. Pakistan practically supported international laws on religious freedom, he added.

On Friday separately, Sam Brownback called on Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua in Islamabad.

According to FO spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal, the foreign secretary briefed the envoy on the incumbent government’s policies “based on Quaid’s vision of an inclusive society to promote religious freedom.”