ISLAMABAD: Convener, World Minorities Alliance (WMA) and former Federal Minister for Population Welfare, Julius Salik on Sunday welcomed the appreciation for the international interfaith conference to be held in Washington from all the stakeholders at the national level.
The Convener WMA in a telephonic conversation from Washington DC told APP that he had received special messages
of appreciation from various personalities including Chairman One-Man Commission on Minorities’ Rights, Dr Shoaib Suddle, Additional Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs and others. They have lauded the cause highlighted in the upcoming conference agenda and expressed best wishes to him for its successful execution, he added.
Julius Salik also J Salik said he was preparing a catalogue to be distributed among the participants for the conference carrying messages of various important personalities including the Prime Minister on interfaith harmony.
The Conference was the first of its kind at a very critical juncture of history when minorities all over the world including people from all faiths were facing violence based on religion and extremism, he added.
Salik said the leaders from all faiths would be convened at the international conference to be held on March 19 in Metropolis Baltimore, Maryland.
He said the aim and objective was one and clear unity of humanity without any prejudice and malice with an open heart for a peaceful future.
J. Salik added that the country was facing many pressing issues and it demanded national effort to address the prevailing economic crisis.
The WMA Convener said the country needed a Christian ambassador in the United States of America to work for improving country’s image and make effective lobbying for writing off the country’s debts.
He said, “I nominate Cardinal Joseph Cordeiro as the Pakistani Ambassador in the US. He is a well reputed person at the global due to his international position in the Church.”
Salik believed that a Christian ambassador due to his religious affinity with the Americans who were mostly Roman Catholic could better persuade the leadership of the US government and Congress for a positive and beneficial bilateral engagement between the two states.
Recalling his efforts to end poor countries’ debts, the WMA Convener informed that he had once written the World Bank to write off Pakistan’s debts back in 2002 otherwise he would drink a bowl of poison on Feburary 26, 2002.
“The World Bank responded to my letter some two days prior to my deadline and wrote that my request was sent to the relevant department for further action,” he added.
