Dewali, a religious festival of the Hindu community, was celebrated with traditional fervor in Sri Krishna Temple in Lahore. A delegation of Interfaith Relations of Minhaj-ul-Quran attended the proceedings under the leadership of Sohail Ahmad Raza, Director of Interfaith Relations.

A seminar was also held in a local hotel under the aegis of Anglo-Asian Welfare Society where speakers threw light on the importance of this festival. Other members of delegation included Habib Ahmad Kokab, Qaiser Jamal, Faiz Ali, and Shafique Raza Khan. Pundit Kashi Ram, Dr Munawar Chand, and Seeta Malhotra received the delegtion. In addition to Syed Zahid Bokhari, Deputy Secretary, Syed Faraz Abbas, and Azhar Abbas, a large number of members of Hindu community attended the ceremony.

Speaking on the occasion, Sohail Ahmad Raza said that the rights of the minorities were constitutionally guaranteed in an Islamic state. He said that Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri held a historic ‘Humanity for Peace’ Conference in London Arena some time back in which key faith leaders participated and vowed to launch a struggle for peace and harmony in the world. He said that interfaith harmony was the need of hour. He said that minorities were part and parcel of the Pakistani fabric.

The participants cut the cake and the programme ended with prayer for peace, progress and security of the country.