PR No. 286 PRESS RELEASE NATIONAL INTERFAITH PEACE CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD IN ISLAMABAD ON JULY 25, 2010: SHAHBAZ BHATTI Islamabad, July 24, 2010 Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs, Shahbaz Bhatti has said that Ministry of Minorities Affairs, Government of Pakistan in collaboration with Interfaith Council for Peace and Harmony (Regd.), Pakistan is organizing National Interfaith Peace Conference in Islamabad on Sunday, 25th of July, 2010. This is one of the major initiative of the Ministry in connection with the National Campaign for Interfaith and harmony. Leading Islamic Scholars, Ulamas of all sects, leaders and representatives of all religions in Pakistan will attend this important conference. He said, the main objective to hold this conference is to promote peace, religious harmony, interfaith dialogue for better understanding between different faiths living in Pakistan. This is in line with the vision of founding father Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah for creating equal opportunities for all citizens of Pakistan, irrespective of their color, caste, creed and religion. **SJK/Ahmad** PR No. 287 PRESS RELEASE Kaira meets CE COI , British parliamentarians and HEC delegation; stresses need for responsible and coherent media system in Pakistan Islamabad, July 24, 2010 Federal Minister for Information & Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira has said that Pakistan and UK can share experience and expertise in strategic communications to promote Public Diplomacy objectives for a better understanding between the people of the two countries. The Minister said this in a meeting with Mark Lund, Chief Executive of UK Central Office of Information (COI), here on Saturday. The Minister was visiting COI Headquarters where he was given a detailed presentation on the working of various sections of the COI. He also visited specialized units of the organization to see the operational aspects of communication strategy and planning. The minister expressed interest in modern communication tools which, found effective for younger generation, could be used in mass communicating for positive behavioral change, including the ones aimed at countering terrorism. The minister said that besides helping with counter terrorism operations through security forces, the international community should also give due attention to ideological and psychological aspects of terrorism. He said that effective communications through plural media could play a vital role in this connection. Deliberating on the capacity building of media in Pakistan, Kaira said that media has seen a significant expansion and transformation in the past few years and there is a growing awareness about the role and responsibility of information sharing and media, in Pakistan policies. He said that laws are being reviewed to cope up with new realities emerging from this change. He added that the well developed and time-tested information & Communication practices in the UK can be of great help in developing similar practices in Pakistan as well. In a separate meeting the minister met with the British Parliamentarians of Pakistani origin including Lord Nazir Ahmed, MP Rehman Chishtie and MP Khalid Mehmood. In the meeting matters pertaining to overseas Pakistanis came under discussion. The Minister acknowledged and appreciated the positive role of British–Pakistani community in the development of the country of their origin and discussed at length ways and means to solve problems faced by them effectively. A 10 member delegation of Higher Education Commission currently visiting the UK also met the Pakistani Information Minister. The minister discussed with them the benefits of exchange programs at multiple levels for a better understanding through public diplomacy, says a press release received here today from London. PR No. 288 PRESS RELEASE PRIME MINISTER CONDOLES WITH MIAN IFTIKHAR HUSSAIN Islamabad, July 24, 2010 Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has expressed deep grief and sorrow over the assassination of Mian Rashid Hussain, the son of Khyber Pakhtunkhawa Provincial Minister for Information, Mian Iftikhar Hussain.  The Prime Minister telephoned to Mian Iftikhar Hussain this evening and conveyed his heartfelt condolences and sincere sympathies to the members of the bereaved family.  He prayed to Almighty Allah to shower his infinite blessings upon the departed soul and grant courage to the family members to bear this immense loss with equanimity. Strongly condemning this cowardly act of terrorism, the Prime Minister directed the provincial government and the law enforcing agencies to investigate the unfortunate incident and apprehend the culprits involved in this heinous crime, so that they could be given exemplary punishment. The Prime Minister also prayed for the speedy recovery of the nephew of Mian Iftikhar Hussain who was seriously injured in the firing attack. PR No. 289 PRESS RELEASE KHRSHEED SHAH AND SAEED KAZMI CONDEMN KILLING OF MIAN IFTIKHAR’S SON Islamabad: 24th July, 2010 Federal Minister for Labour and Manpower, Syed Khursheed Shah and Federal Minister for Religious Affairs, Syed Hamid Saeed Kazmi have strongly condemned the sad death of Mian Rashid Hussain, son of Mian Iftikhar Hussain, provincial Minister for Information, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa who was assassinated in a terrorist act in Pubbi near Naushera on Saturday. They expressed their grief and sorrow over the sad killing of the son of Mian Iftikhar and termed this as wicked act of the terrorists. In a statement issued here today, both the ministers condoled with the Minister Iftikhar Hussain and prayed to Al-mighty Allah to place the departed soul in eternal peace and grant gratitude and courage to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss. They also viewed that the extremists were bent upon to kill innocent people, adding that the government would not bow before terrorists and would continue war against terror till eradication of terrorism in the region. They hoped that with joint efforts the terrorism would be handled with success. They urged upon people and political leaders to come forward for maintaining unity among the people for combating terrorist activities in the country