Interfaith Harmony at Shrines in Pakistan: A Case Study of Baba Guru Nanak’s Dev Shrine - Kartarpur

Pakistan is a place where people belonging to different cultures and religions are residing together. The founder of Pakistan Quaid e Azam Muhmmad Ali Jinnah gifted liberty to the minorities in Pakistan and constitution of Pakistan safeguards the fundamental rights of Non-Muslims. Non-Muslim Minorities in Pakistan (Sikhs, Hindus and Christians etc.) have awarded freedom to go their religious places for practicing their religious obligations. Government of Pakistan has established Evacuee Trust Property Board under Act No. XIII of 1975 (which was promulgated on 1st July 1974) for management, control and disposal of the Evacuee Trust properties all over Pakistan. Undoubtedly, Pakistan is a Muslim majority country with multi-religious and multi-sectarian population. Though, we keep hearing about events of inter and intra religious intolerance every now and then. This research papers gives a comprehensive detail about the interfaith harmony at Shrines in Pakistan in order to prove that all the news we are getting through print media, electronic media or social media about religious intolerance in Pakistan is only one side of picture. Withal throwing light on the interfaith harmonious culture at Shrines, it aims to explore the concept of religious harmony or interfaith harmony. This paper briefly encapsulates the background of different shrines in Pakistan and the communities visiting them. It pinpoints the facts, reasons and sentiments of shrine visiting communities behind their astonishing attachment with the shrines. Following paper ripostes all the above raised questions with specific reference to the Guru Nanak’s Dev Shrine in Kartarpur. In addition to this, it spotlights the efforts of Evacuee Trust Property Board in managing and controlling Guru Nanak’s Dev Shrine. Lastly, it explains the roles of Sikh Yatress and Sikh Diaspora for allowing other religious communities to visit their 2nd most sacred place. Also, it unveils the roles of government and people of Pakistan in reviving Sikh community in Pakistan. The findings will encourage the multi- religious and multi-sectarian society to maintain and build a firm relationship among them