British Delegation Shares Positive Experience with Pakistani Muslims and Non Muslims – Bishop of Lahore Irfan Jamil and Toaha Qureshi MBE

By Umar Mahmood Qureshi

The British delegation led by Toaha Qureshi MBE were in Lahore for their Minority Majority Project hosted by Bishop of Lahore, Rt Rev Irfan Jamil. The project, which looks at the resilience of minorities in both UK and Pakistan, brought people of various backgrounds and religions together to share success stories and best practices. The delegation included Catriona Robertson, Reverend Rana Khan, Malik Gul and I. Delegates were met in true Pakistani style and presented with a bouquet of flowers and necklaces of rose petals.

The seminar commenced with words from Rt Rev Irfan Jamil, who said it was a joy and privilege to welcome the delegation to Pakistan and conduct this timely interfaith dialogue seminar due to the difficult situation the country is currently in. Pakistan has been gripped with terrorism and egocentrism which has left the country weak, consequently the peace we once had has now been torn into pieces, according to Bishop Jamil. He stressed that minorities are facing issues all over the world and Pakistan is not a unique case; but the work on faith dialogue is not given enough coverage.

Delegation member Catriona Robertson, convener London Borough Faith Network, informed the participants that the aim of the project was to share the positive practical experiences so that the minorities in each country could learn from one another and see what other mechanisms could be put into place to better relations among various faiths.

Toaha Qureshi MBE, Chairman Stockwell Green Community Services (SGCS) and Forum for International Relations Development (FIRD), emphasized to the audience that they must not allow for self imposed exclusion in society but instead integrate into society and enter into decision making institutions because that is where real difference will occur. He spoke of his visits to Northern Ireland and how the country was marred with violence, terrorism and enthralled in fear due to the Irish Republican Army (IRA), a British terrorist organisation. “The country’s problems were only solved through dialogue, not with the use of the army and war”, he said. Taking words from the Holy Quran, Mr Qureshi highlighted the peaceful nature of Islam and the promotion of dialogue between different nations and tribes.  He went on to say that the horror of the 7/7 attacks in the UK happened once and never again due to local communities taking ownership of the problems, the public consultations and the serious efforts made by the British government. While speaking on the terrorist plots, Mr Qureshi elaborated on the “triangular model of containment” designed by SGCS which was adopted across the UK by the government – a step that needs to be taken in Pakistan as well.

Reverend Rana Khan spoke of scholarships that had been offered by team leader Toaha Qureshi MBE for minorities in the past and how he has been a huge supporter from the start. He shared a personal, heart warming experience of his own upbringing and education; after leaving study in a Church, he studied for 5 years in a Madressa in Pakistan and gives credit to the Madressa for his teaching. He said that Pakistanis had a great amount of knowledge of each others religions but needed a slightly better understanding to create unity.

Former Bishop of Lahore Alexander John Malik also spoke at the event and recalled true events of interfaith interactions by reminding people of when churches were damaged and imams of mosques used to be the first in line to start painting the church. He firmly stated that people are using religion as a tool for power politics and nothing more. Bishop Malik also studied in a Madressa and managed to come first in the subject of Islamic Studies on a number of occasions – he felt no racism or discrimination, rather a unity with his peers. He went on to welcome the endeavors of the delegation, stating that Mr Qureshi was a true pioneer of interfaith relations and has proven this by overcoming all forms of racism and being awarded by the Queen of England.

During the interactive session of the seminar, the audience echoed the development in relations the country has seen, in particular, imams who recalled that 20 years ago, open sessions of interfaith dialogue were very difficult to arrange and it was down to the hard work carried out over years that resulted in todays closer relationships. There was a firm commitment from all who attended to hold regular seminars to promote faith on a community level. A video will be shown at FIRD’s secretariat of the Pakistan events in London.