ISLAMABAD: 18 May 2026 – Speakers at a seminar hosted by Ms. Asiya Nasir, former MNA, under the banner of the Resilient Women Network (RWN) and Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), emphasized the need for media to promote social harmony, which can pave the way towards interfaith harmony — essential for the stability and development of any country.They stressed that non-Muslims are equal citizens of Pakistan and that religious diversity should be accepted, as the founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, stated: “You are free to go to your church, temple, or gurdwara. The state has nothing to do with your religion.”
The theme of the seminar, held at the Pakistan Institute of Parliamentary Studies (PIPS), was “Responsible Journalism for Inclusive Societies: Media’s Role in Promoting Acceptance & Peaceful Coexistence.” The event aimed to discuss the important role of media in promoting social cohesion, acceptance, and peaceful coexistence in society.
The speakers included parliamentarians, media persons, community leaders, and civil society representatives. Prominent among them were MNA Ms. Huma Chughtai, former MNAs Ms. Surriya Asghar and Ms. Nisar Tanveer, senior anchorperson Mazhar Abbas, former President Lahore Press Club Arshad Ansari, journalist Tazeen Akhtar, President RIUJ Asif Bashir Chaudhry, Zulfiqar Baig, Imrana Komal, Masroor Ahmad, former Secretary Education Mehar Daad, George Boota, Tariq Chaman, and Raja Bashir Usmani.
Ms. Asiya Nasir, in her welcome address, briefed the participants about the efforts of her organization and the Women’s Caucus she established in the National Assembly to enhance awareness regarding freedom of religion in Pakistan. She stated that the Constitution of Pakistan grants non-Muslim citizens the right to freely observe their religious practices.
She condemned the forced conversions of Muslim women in India and their marriages to Hindu men. She also called upon the government to eliminate the practice of employing Christians only in sanitation-related jobs.
Asiya Nasir further raised the issue of Saint Teresa’s School in Rawalpindi, where around 800 girls are studying, most of whom are Muslims. She said that the Excise Department had locked the school’s main entrance gates for tax collection, despite the institution charging nominal fees and offering scholarships to many students.
MNA Huma Chughtai stated that Pakistan belongs to people of all religions with equal rights and status. She said that non-Muslim Pakistanis are specifically addressed in the Constitution to safeguard their rights, as they have separate family laws and other personal matters.
She agreed with several speakers that the curriculum should be amended to remove objectionable material, while also emphasizing that media policies should change regarding how issues concerning non-Muslim communities are discussed.
Anchorperson Mazhar Abbas said that the Christian community is respected in Pakistan for its contributions in various sectors, including education and healthcare. He highlighted the struggle of journalists for freedom of the press and said that this freedom is not only for journalists but for the public’s right to information. Therefore, he said, the press or media should not be blamed for bias against non-Muslim Pakistanis.
Senior journalist Arshad Ansari stated that the press and mainstream media are responsible platforms where news passes through multiple checks before being aired or published. In contrast, he said, social media often operates irresponsibly. He rejected the impression that mainstream media spreads hatred against non-Muslim communities.
Editor Tazeen akhtar in his comment said, while we hold everyone accountable to us, we need to hold ourselves accountable to our readers and viewvers. He said, in 2006, he penned down that the “News Alerts” are mostly the “News Flirts” and “Breaking News” are mainly “Barking News.”
He said, as responsible journalism regarding social harmony and to carry the voice of the down trodden community to the decision makers, he started exclusive beat on Christian and other Non Muslim Pakistanis and assigned this task to a reporter who was from the Christian community.
He said , despite all efforts and steps taken by the government to safegaurd the rights of Non Muslim Pakistanis , still there are issues to be address. At the same time, it is matter of fact that our society is not biased at a large towards them. We have respect for our Christian teachers and health workers who have taught us with complete attention and sincerity and who are serving in hospitals.
Journalist Asif Bashir Chaudhry pointed out hateful content in the curriculum and questioned the government’s policy of exposing children to such material. He stated that such content creates bias in the minds of students and called for curriculum reforms to improve social harmony in the country.
