Peace Pole Planting in Lahore, Pakistan
January 18th, 2005 by sfuqua
Amidst tensions surrounding the days-old murder of a Shiite religious
leader in this multi-religious, but Sunni-dominated nation, a peace pole was
planted in Pakistan's second largest city, Lahore, on January 15th.
Planted near the Pakistan Day Memorial, it was a small but hopefully
significant further step in efforts to bring the religions of Pakistan into
greater harmony and goodwill. May peace prevail in Pakistan, may peace
prevail on Earth.
"A Peace Pole is a hand-crafted monument that displays the message
and prayer "May Peace Prevail on Earth" on each of its four or six
sides, usually in different languages. There are more than 200,000 Peace
Poles in 180 countries all over the world dedicated as monuments to peace.
They serve as constant reminders for us to visualize and pray for world
peace." From the Peace Pole Project website. InterfaithNews.Net also previously
covered the planting of a peace pole in Multan, Pakistan
A report by Yuel Bhatti
Peace Pal Coordinator - World Peace Prayer Society
Member, TTI-CC
!MAY PEACE PREVAIL ON EARTH! It is great joy to report an historical event
of plantation of Peace Pole next to Minar-e-Pakistan (*). This place is largest public place where daily thousands people came for walk and enjoyment. This place is also near to old historical Badshi
Mosque.
This Pole erected with the partnership of the World Peace Prayer Society,
URI Pakistan MCC,
Majlas-e-Ulama Pakistan and the Pastoral Institute Multan.
Mr. Rais Jahangir Ahmed, State Minister, National Council of Social
Welfare, was the Guest of Honor. While the different Interfaith dignitaries,
scholars, clergy, Ulamas, Ladies, members and Coordinator of URI CCs and
Children of Peace & Development Foundation (PDF) and general Public were
present and participated in great zeal and enthusiasm.
The great ceremony was started with recitation Holy Qu'ran,
Bible and Geeta [Bhagavad Gita] . Welcome and
Peace Songs were sung by the PDF Children beautifully, while the
Leaders/Speakers from all faith Muslims, Christian, Hindu, Sikhs, Parsis
admired the efforts of Fr. James Chanan "to promote enduring, daily
interfaith cooperation, to end religiously motivated violence, and to create
cultures of peace, justice and healing for the Earth and all living
beings" and his services will be remembered for ever in the History
National and Internationally and also admired great contribution of URI and
Peace Prayer Society world wide.
The Inspiring, beautiful and powerful encouraging message of Ms. Deborah
Moldow, Director of
WPPS, read by Yuel
Bhatti, Peace Pal Coordinator-WPPS in English, was highly appreciated by the
gathering.
Maulana Khabir Azad did vital role in the event. The deepest gratitude
goes to all the members of URI-MCC Pakistan members of WPPS and especially to
Fr. James Chanan who has devoted his life for promoting Peace.
!May Peace Prevail in Pakistan!
The "Minar-e-Pakistan" is the
"Pakistan Day Memorial" in Lahore, commemorating the 1940 Muslim
League demand for a Muslim nation separate from India.
