Pakistan religious visit ‘a useful exchange’

MANILA (UCAN) — Philippine religious leaders say they had constructive meetings with the Pakistani government on a recent trip to Islamabad.

Both sides expressed a wish for “closer cooperation” on matters of mutual interest.

They discussed the Philippine government’s bid to gain official observer status in the Organization of the Islamic Conference and Pakistan’s effort to gain membership of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Archbishop Fernando Capalla of Davao, co-convenor of the Bishops-Ulama Conference (BUC), said it was a “useful exchange.”

“There were frank and open discussions with the foreign minister, the ministers of religion and minorities, the president of the Senate and the Counsel for Islamic Ideology,” Archbishop Capalla said.

The Filipino group met Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi, the Minister of Minorities Shahbaz Bhatti, a Catholic, and Minister of Religious Affairs Syed Hamid Saeed Kazmi.

Ulama are Islamic scholars regarded as religious leaders.

Other BUC members on the trip included Catholic Archbishop Antonio Ledesma of Cagayan de Oro, Bishop Edwin Dela Pena of Marawi, and Protestant Bishops Hilario Gomez and Danilo Bustamante.

The Philippine Muslim leaders included professors Sharief Julabbi, Salipada Tamano, Hamid Barra, Aleem Elias Macarandas and Judge Abu Ali Cali, president of the Ulama League of the Philippines.

Although Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari invited the group through President Gloria Arroyo, he could not attend the meeting, Archbishop Capalla said.

They two sides agreed to make plans for educating people of both countries on the Christian-Muslim relationship.

The Pakistan foreign minister agreed to visit Manila in March. The BUC will meet Jan. 30 in Davao to draft a formal invitation to him and the ministers of religion and minorities to visit with other religious leaders, the archbishop said.

PR08633.1586 January 26, 2010 33 EM-lines (289 words)