Rawalpindi: Speakers while paying glowing tributes to late Mehboob Francis Sada, director Christian Study Centre (CSC) said Sada was a noble person who worked tirelessly for peace, social harmony through interfaith dialogue and upheld the idea of ecumenism at the national and international level and his sudden demise on Jan 14 this year was a tragic loss for the nation.
Christian Study Centre (CSC) on Sunday organised the reference in memory of Sada to eulogize his services in achieving humanitarian and philanthropic goals.
Representatives belonging to various minority segments, religious scholars, rights and social activists, diplomats, intellectuals, politicians, educationists, literati, a number of clergies, students and hundreds of Sada's lover participated in the reference.
Ashfaq Salim Mirza, Dr Khalid Masood, Naeem Mushtaq, Naeem Mirza, Shafique Chaudhary, Fayaz Baqir, Haroon Adeem, Aslam Khaki, Shamim Javed, Dr Sarwar Kamran, Dr Farooq Khan, Bishop Rufin Anthony, Jacob Dogra, Rahat William, Hanook David, Naeem Qureshi and Dr Alvin Murad spoke on the occasion. Romana Bashir of CSC conducted the proceedings.
Speakers said that late Sada was a staunch nationalist, who struggled throughout his life for equality, justice and unity in Pakistan. "He vehemently supported and participated in all the movements to end discrimination and discriminatory laws in the country. Sada's contributions to cause of peace, interfaith harmony, social and political awareness, youth, education and Christian community are highly commendable," speakers said.
Ashfaq Salim Mirza, a writer and intellectual, in his address said late Sada had traveled far and wide; from America in the west right down to Australia in the South, just to voice his noble ideas on the international forum bringing pride to his nation and valiantly tried to efface the tarnished image of our country and promote it as a peaceful and tolerant nation due to the existence of a multi-religious populace. "Yet, despite having such unique accomplishments he lived with his 'feet on the ground', that is why he was able to reach out to the masses and embodied the true Christian spirit of simplicity," Mirza maintained.
Aslam Khaki, a lawyer and member Shariah Court said Holy Prophet (pbuh) offered the Namaz-e-Janaza of Najashi who was a non-muslim and to him late Sada was the 'Najashi' of this era whose' final rites could have been performed according to Muslims' rites. "For Sada 'dialogue' as a gateway to healthier relationships, was always the better way for a positive solution to any prevailing issue, that is why as a consistent reformist and humanitarian activist he was part of innumerable 'peaceful demonstrations' regarding a communal problem, minority rights, corruption, educational reforms and discriminations," he said.
Dr Khalid Masood, fromer chairman, Council of Islamic Ideology said in a hostile environment, Sada fearlessly pursued his ideals of creating a better state and society where citizens were equal in eyes of the law and people belonging to different faiths and denominations lived in peace and harmony. "He was close to all progressive individuals, institutions and political groups who aspired and strove for a just, egalitarian and prosperous Pakistan," Masood said, adding Sada worked closely with enlightened Muslim scholars because he had a penchant for literature, wrote prose and poetry.
Naeem Mirza from Aurat Foundation said that Sada encouraged faith communities to meet and work together to address issues of shared concern, advance public knowledge and understanding of different faith communities, to promote good community relations, and to endorse social inclusion and combat religious discrimination by encouraging communication, understanding and partnership between faith communities and with public, voluntary and private sector bodies.
The speakers also shed light on different aspects of Sada's personality from the poetry of 'Bhullay Shah', the verses of 'Faiz' to the 'naats and qawwalis' of Islam and Sufism, the meditative hymns of Buddhism, The 'Punjabi' 'Bhajans' and 'Hymns' of Christianity and Sikkhism, Sada upheld the unique philosophy of the 'universality' of all religions exposing the common characteristics of all through comparative analysis.
They said having a strong link with different 'churches' across the country, Mehboob was opposed to 'sects' and strongly supported ecumenism, regardless of frictional relationships with a particular church clergy.
A documentary on life of Shah Shams Sabzwari was also screened on the occasion to highlight role of Sufis and Shrines to promote interfaith harmony and to bring people of all religion on a single platform. Bulleh Shah, Shah Hussain, and others Sufis message for love, peace and brotherhood was also highlighted in the documentary. Romana Bashir and others recited poetic work of various poets dedicating to Mehboob Sada. On the occasion, CSC distributed shields among the family members of Sada in promotion of interfaith harmony.
[Picture from Oasis]
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