Shared humanity, not religious affiliation, to define respect and coexistence

The Pak Institute for Peace Studies and the Department of Quranic Studies of the Islamia University Bahawalpur organized a policy consultation titled Building Bridges: A Stakeholder Consultation on Tolerance and Inclusivity at Islamia University Bahawalpur on December 12, 2025. Distinguished experts and panelists representing academia, policymakers, civil society, and religious scholars shared their expert opinions during the policy consultation.
Prof. Dr. Zia ur Rehman, Chairperson, Department of Quranic Studies, started the session with welcome remarks. Muhammad Amir Rana, President, PIPS, in his opening remarks, emphasized that tolerance and inclusivity reflect the substance of dialogue. He shared the recent global trend that, over the past few years, political and religious transitions have been observed from Algeria to Indonesia, adding that these transitions have been successful at the societal level through the efforts of local communities. So far, in Pakistan, around 13 policy documents have been drafted, which encompass counter-violent extremism policies, but they still lack effective execution in letter and spirit.
Taking the discussion further, Dr. Zia highlighted that people could coexist by adhering to Islamic principles and by developing the tendency to accept different social and religious groups. He explained how extremism makes a society less livable, while Islam advises adopting a moderate path to foster harmony. The concept of an Islamic society guided by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was ideal, and the same principles should be adopted to create a society fostering pluralism and coexistence.
Prof. Dr. Abdul Ghaffar, Chairman, Department of Islamic Studies, mentioned that every religion and belief has its own ideological foundations, and these cannot be changed. All religions promote tolerance and inclusivity; however, there is a dire need to identify the root causes that lead to challenges. Such behaviors should be reviewed. There is clear evidence of the exploitation of people through certain laws.
Dr. Ghulam Haider Maghrana, Chairperson, Department of Hadith, argued that there is a need to fix the foundations of our society. He recalled the words of Pakistan’s founding father, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who famously said, “You are free; you are free to go to your temples. You are free to go to your mosques or to any other places of worship in this State of Pakistan.” This vision was reflected in his appointments of cabinet members, which included members from the Hindu and Ahmadi communities. This reflects the vision of the State of Pakistan. As per Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s vision, there is no minority or majority, and all are equal. We should adhere to his vision to achieve a tolerant and inclusive society. He added that mosques and pulpits should be pre-approved by the government. In most countries across the world, mosques and seminaries are regulated by governments, whereas Pakistan is lacking in this regard, and a similar practice should be adopted by our government. At times, people exploit religion for personal gain. He further added that laws should be revisited, as they are often used to blackmail people in the name of religion.
Dr. Muhammad Saeed Sheikh commented that the true essence of Islam encompasses mutual peace, affection, tolerance, a balanced system, and respect for human dignity, especially in such tumultuous times. All world religions promote peace and tolerance. Anyone who exploits the law in the name of religion should be dealt with legally, rather than revisiting the existing laws. Since all citizens are equal, the focus should be on commonalities, he further emphasized.
Malik Allah Bakhsh Kalyar argued that the Treaty of Madinah had already set a precedent for coexistence. In Islamic society, Jews were acknowledged as stakeholders. The Constitution of Pakistan also enshrines equal rights for its citizens, regardless of religious association. He added that initiatives such as Paigham-e-Pakistan should be taken to the parliamentary floor and incorporated into law. In addition, university and madrassah students should be encouraged to be active members of society. Uneven societal behaviors often lead to chaos. Moreover, political behavior fuels hate and extremism, which often culminates in youth-driven violence. Social media has become a bone of contention, and there is a dire need to regulate its use.
Dr. Parsa Shahzad commented that dialogue helps to end extremism and conflict. There is a need for intersectional engagement to promote tolerance and acceptance in society.
Malik Ejaz Nazim stated that economic stability plays a crucial role in societal intolerance, which is evident in the case of our country. He also emphasized that social media and radicalization have become synonymous, serving as a means to promote hate speech.
Mr. Mubeen Sheraz, during his remarks, commented that unity is the driving force of peace in any society. He metaphorically linked human body organs to society, highlighting their different shapes and functions that must work together properly.
Syed Umer Farooq, Chairman Parks and Horticulture Authority, Bahawalpur, argued that there is a need to rethink institutions, and that the sphere of education is the government’s responsibility. Youth are the building block of society and should be empowered through education to improve the future of the country.
Dr. Munawar Shahzad, in his remarks, said that people in general are deprived of a true understanding and the blessings of Islam. This, in turn, can increase people’s interest in understanding Islam. He stated that there is a need to incorporate Quranic translations in madrassahs to make meanings more comprehensible for students.
Dr. Aurangzeb remarked that a change is being observed among students. Over the past decade, there has been a transition in behavior, which demands capacity building to foster patience and acceptance.
Ms. Sajeela Kausar said that there should be a mutual check-and-balance system, and there should be respect for every individual based on humanity rather than religious association.
In his concluding remarks, Muhammad Amir Rana, President of PIPS, thanked the participants for their valuable insights. He summarized the key points of the discussion and cited Indonesia’s progress as a model, where people, rather than relying solely on the government, took steps to improve seminaries and the religious environment. He noted that in 2022, Indonesia hosted an interfaith forum, and knowledge contributions have increased since then. He added that a similar approach in Pakistan could foster tolerance and inclusion from the grassroots level.