Lahore: July 24, 2014. (Pervez Yousaf) 23rd July 2014: Council for Interfaith Dialogue Pakistan hosted an Iftar Dinner in the honor of Muslim brethren in a local hotel here at Lahore. A large number of Muslim leaders and scholars participated in this meaningful gathering. His Grace Archbishop of Lahore Sebastian Francis Shaw and Commodore Akbar Naqi (Station Commander Navy, Lahore) were the guests of honor on this occasion. Programme began with the prayer led by Rev. Saleem Khokhar while a passage from the Holy Quran was recited by Prof. Allama Farooq Ahmed Saeedi. Welcoming the guests Fr. Francis Nadeem OFM Cap said that objective of this gathering is to express harmony with our Muslim brethren, to eliminate the gaps and to live peacefully with one another. Muslim leaders and scholars appreciating the efforts of Council for Interfaith Dialogue for the promotion of peace and interfaith dialogue said that such kind of programmes give us opportunity to come closer to one another. Sharing his views Archbishop Sebastian Francis Shaw said that fasting is one of the common values prevailing in Islam and Christianity and teaches us about prayer, tolerance, alms giving and forgiveness. It is a channel to reduce the gaps prevailing between the two religions. On this occasion a special message released by the Papal Council for Inter-religious Dialogue, Vatican (Rome) on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr was read by Rev. Fr. Shahzada Khurram. Representing the Muslim community Chairman of the council Pir Shafaat Rasool thanked all the guests and specially the Christian brethren for organizing such a meaningful gathering. Guests who were present during this Iftaar Dinner were: Tahir Khalil Sindhu (Minister for Minority Affairs and Human Rights, Punjab), Hafiz Zubair Ahmed Zaheer, Allama Asghar Arif Chishti, Maulana Raji-ullah-Khan Hazarvi, Dr. Ehsan Malik, Shabnam Nagi (Advocate), Dr. Aziz-ul-Bazi, Muhammad Basharat, Riaz Khan, Salman Siddique, Irfan Bhatti, Tanvir Hashmi, Anwar-ul-Haque Khan, Jahangir Jan, Hafiz Shoaib-ur-Rehman, Allama Muhammad Younas Hussain, Allama Farooq Ahmed Saeedi, Mian Muhammad Shahbaz, Hafi Mufti Ashiq Hussain, Akmal Bhatti, Muhammad Akmal, Ch. Zubair, Nasir Ghani, Pir S. A. Jafri, Rabia Zia, Razia Malik, Sohail Ahmed Raza, Maulana Javed Akbar Saqi, Dr. Kanwal Feroze, Johnson Bernard, Allama Sahibzada Abdul Mustafa Sialvi, Bhagat Lal Khokhar, Irfan Najmi, Fr. James Channan, Fr. Pascal Paulus, Fr. Samson Dilawar, Fr. Morris Jalal, Fr. Shahzada Khurram, Rev. Emmanuel Khokhar, Saima Rafique, Samuel Pyara, Tariq Dildar Sindhu, Edward Qaiser, Naeem Wazir, Jassi Singh, Rev. Amjad Niamat, Joseph Francis, Rev. I.B. Rocky, Rev. Saleem Khokhar, Dr. Basit, Dr. Kamran, Hafiz Nauman, Pir Ibrar Ahmed Khan Gilani, Maulana Zubair Al-Bazi, Bobby Wazir and Jamshed Saleem.