What You Should Know About the Azadi Fellowship

Tahira Khan

Quetta: Are you eager to participate in promoting religious diversity in the country?  The seven-day residential Azadi Fellowship is the perfect opportunity for you.

This initiative celebrates and emphasizes the respect that every faith held by citizens deserves.

The program engages youth in fostering meaningful relationships with peers from diverse backgrounds, encouraging them to understand and appreciate different perspectives on life.

It is a unique and creative initiative aimed at building better connections among participants, helping them explore the importance of religious diversity in our society.

During their stay, participants were introduced to inter and intra-faith dialogue, sharing meals and starting each day with verses from the Holy Quran, Bible, Bhagavad Gita, and Guru Granth Sahib.

The Azadi Fellowship is a joint initiative of the International Research Council for Religious Affairs (IRCRA) in collaboration with the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI), the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), and the International Research Institute (IRI) in Islamabad.

This program is designed not only to promote religious harmony but also to embody the core principles of Paigham-e-Pakistan.

Promoting Religious Harmony

In 2018, the Pakistan government issued a unanimous Fatwa aimed at countering extremist narratives that challenge the state’s authority, with 1,829 religious leaders from nearly all sects signing the document. 

As part of promoting inter- and intra-faith dialogue, the Azadi Fellowship opened with an academic lecture on the “Challenges of Multiculturalism,” followed by an activity session focused on “Identity and Conflict.”

The first session was led by Humaira Masihuddin, a Legal and Criminological Consultant/Trainer, while Rashad Bukhari, Director of Communication & Development at IRCRA, facilitated an engaging activity on resolution techniques.

The second day featured a discussion on democratic issues in Pakistan presented by Zafar-Ullah Khan, former DG of the Pakistan Institute of Parliamentary Studies.

Fellows Explore Diversity

Joining via Zoom, Azhar Hussain, President of the Peace and Education Foundation in Islamabad, emphasized the role of religion in fostering peaceful social networks that contribute to building a resilient society.

In addition to promoting religious harmony and democratic values, leadership techniques were also highlighted as essential for enhancing foreign policy relations.

In this context, Tehmeed Jan, Director of IRCRA, offered a detailed overview of Pak-Afghan relations. Additionally, Dr. General (R) Samrez Salik, HI (M), former DG of ISSRA, NDU Islamabad, and Syeda Rabia Shah, DG of the Human Rights Ministry, addressed issues surrounding institutional reforms and the human rights situation in the country.

Sahibzada Peer Mujtaba Gul Badshah Farooq, Sajjada Nasheen, highlighted the distinctions between Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) and Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE) within the framework of Sufism, placing greater emphasis on PVE in the current context.

Beyond rigorous academic sessions and participant activities, Azadi Fellows explored various diplomatic missions and religious sites on the fourth day.

This included visits to the Indonesian Embassy, the National Assembly, a Mandir, and a Church, aimed at fostering bilateral ties, acknowledging religious diversity, and understanding the legislative process.

They also visited the Institute for Strategic Studies, Research, and Analysis (ISSRA) at the National Defense University (NDU), which focuses on narrative building in line with national security discourse.

On the fifth day, Barrister Zafarullah engaged participants in discussions on the vital role of Ijtihad and Dynamism within Islamic Law, followed by a session with Ahmer Bilal Sofi on International Law and Treaties.

Allama Dr. Raghib Naeemi then briefed the fellows on the role of the Council of Islamic Ideology in Pakistan.

The sixth day celebrated the contributions of previous Azadi Fellows, Nazia and Raj, who shared their experiences from the second cohort. Zoe Ware, Political Counselor at the British High Commission, provided an in-depth analysis of diplomacy and current international dynamics affecting regional collaboration. 

Dr Zia ul Haq, Director General of IRI, Islamabad, emphasized the importance of engaging in religious studies for students and scholars.

Finally, Christopher Sharaf, Senior Project Officer at CSC, Consultant PPAF, encouraged participants to think creatively about social development and highlighted the significance of leadership qualities in today’s turbulent times.