August 12, 2026
I-LAP Launches
Islamabad, August 12, 2026: The Interfaith League Against Poverty (I-LAP), an international Christian nonprofit organization committed to promoting human rights, interfaith harmony, religious freedom, peace, and equality based on our common humanity, officially launched the International Religious Freedom–Peace Builders Forum Pakistan (IRF-PBF Pakistan) in Islamabad.
International Religious Freedom–Peace Builders Forum Pakistan Launched on the occasion of Pakistan’s 79th Independence Day
The launch brought together parliamentarians, former military officers, government representatives, civil society leaders, legal experts, academics, media professionals, business leaders, faith leaders, youth representatives, and human rights advocates from across Pakistan.
International Religious Freedom–Peace Builders Forum Pakistan
Islamabad, August 12, 2026: The Interfaith League Against Poverty (I-LAP), an international Christian nonprofit organization committed to promoting human rights, interfaith harmony, religious freedom, peace, and equality based on our common humanity, officially launched the International Religious Freedom–Peace Builders Forum Pakistan (IRF-PBF Pakistan) in Islamabad.
The Forum was launched in connection with Pakistan’s 79th Independence Day, reaffirming the importance of religious freedom, human dignity, equal rights, peaceful coexistence, and the principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), adopted by the United Nations on December 10, 1948.
READ THE FULL LAUNCH ARTICLE →About I-LAP
The Interfaith League Against Poverty (I-LAP) is an international Christian nonprofit organization committed to promoting human rights, interfaith harmony, religious freedom, peacebuilding, poverty alleviation, Education for Peace and social inclusion. Founded in Pakistan in 2006, I-LAP established its international presence in the United States in 2023. Through advocacy, dialogue, partnerships, leadership development, research, and community engagement, I-LAP works to build bridges among people of different faiths and contribute to a more peaceful, just, and inclusive world.
Leaders and voices at the launch.
Sajid Sandhu
Chairman I-LAP; President I-LAP-USA
WATCH VIDEO →
Nazia Ansari
Executive Director I-LAP Pakistan
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Greg Mitchell
Founder & CEO, Board Chairman, International Religious Freedom Secretariat; Co-Chair, International Religious Freedom Roundtable
WATCH VIDEO →Distinguished Guest Speakers
- Dr. Nelson Azeem — Member National Assembly of Pakistan; Federal Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination WATCH VIDEO →
- Air Chief Marshal (R) Sohail Aman — Former Chief of Air Staff of the Pakistan Air Force, March 2015 to March 2018 WATCH VIDEO →
- Maj. Gen. (R) Samrez Salik — Retired two-star general from the Pakistan Army, Former Director General of the Institute for Strategic Studies, Research and Analysis (ISSRA) National Defense University (NDU), Islamabad WATCH VIDEO →
- Allama Muhammad Raghib Hussain Naeemi — Chairman, Council of Islamic Ideology WATCH VIDEO →
- Manzoor Masih — Member, National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) WATCH VIDEO →
- Prof. Dr. Muhammad Akram — Director General, IRI, International Islamic University WATCH VIDEO →
I-LAP at the Forum
- Sajid Sandhu — Chairman I-LAP; President I-LAP-USA
- Nazia Ansari — Executive Director I-LAP Pakistan
- Greg Mitchell — Founder & CEO, Board Chairman, International Religious Freedom Secretariat; Co-Chair, International Religious Freedom Roundtable
Voices from the Forum
The inauguration featured distinguished guest speakers whose messages and participation contributed to the launch of the International Religious Freedom–Peace Builders Forum Pakistan.
Dr. Nelson Azeem
Member National Assembly of Pakistan; Federal Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination · WATCH VIDEO →
Air Chief Marshal (R) Sohail Aman
Former Chief of Air Staff of the Pakistan Air Force, March 2015 to March 2018 · WATCH VIDEO →
Maj. Gen. (R) Samrez Salik
Retired two-star general from the Pakistan Army; Former Director General of ISSRA, NDU, Islamabad · WATCH VIDEO →
Allama Muhammad Raghib Hussain Naeemi
Chairman, Council of Islamic Ideology · WATCH VIDEO →
Manzoor Masih
Member, National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) · WATCH VIDEO →
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Akram
Director General, IRI, International Islamic University · WATCH VIDEO →
Voices in Dialogue
The launch featured panel discussions bringing together representatives from diverse religious, civil society, academic, and professional backgrounds.
Faith, Civil Society, Academia & Media
FAITH & CIVIL SOCIETY PANEL: Zafarullah Khan: Former Executive Director, Pakistan Institute of Parliamentary Studies (PIPS); Ghulam Murtaza: Founder & CEO, SDGs Consultants, Islamabad; Asia Ashraf: Director & Consultant, Greenfield Hospital of Psychiatry; Rev. Samson Sohail, Chairman United Council of Churches, Christian Community; Shagufa Jamal: Baha’i Community; Muhammad Israr Madani: President, International Council for Religious Affairs (ICRA), Islamabad; Augustin Jacob: President Minority Forum Pakistan.
ACADEMIA & MEDIA PANEL: Dr. Aftab Ahmed: International Islamic University, Islamabad; Dr. Majid Khan: Professor, Management Sciences, COMSATS University; Khawaja Mazhar Iqbal: CEO Save the Trees; Dr. Irum Khan: AI Specialist, COMSATS University Islamabad; Usman Ahmed: Ph.D Scholar COMSATS University; Najia Ayub: PTV Home.
From discussion to practical action.
Following extensive discussion, participants expressed broad support for the establishment of the International Religious Freedom–Peace Builders Forum Pakistan and endorsed the following principles and commitments.
1 · Religious Freedom Is a Right for Every Citizen
Participants affirmed that religious freedom should never be viewed as a privilege granted to one community. It is a fundamental right belonging to every citizen. Pakistan does not need platforms that merely identify problems; rather, it needs platforms that bring people together to develop practical solutions.
2 · Strengthening Constitutional Guarantees
Participants recognized that the Constitution of Pakistan, particularly Article 20, provides important constitutional guarantees concerning religious freedom. The Forum will work to help bridge the gap between constitutional guarantees and their implementation in everyday life. The Forum will also facilitate constructive dialogue among legislators, legal experts, religious leaders, civil society, and other stakeholders regarding possible legal and policy reforms that may further strengthen religious freedom and human rights, while considering Pakistan’s constitutional framework and its international commitments, including Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
3 · Building a Culture of Peace and Inclusion
The Forum’s vision goes beyond addressing discrimination. It seeks to help build a culture of respect, responsibility, dialogue, freedom, mutual understanding, and peaceful coexistence. Participants emphasized that achieving these objectives will require patience, perseverance, and cooperation among government institutions, parliamentarians, religious institutions, civil society, academia, media, and citizens.
4 · Reaching Communities Across Pakistan
The Forum resolved to work toward expanding the initiative beyond Islamabad and eventually reaching communities across all provinces of Pakistan. Participants recognized that meaningful and sustainable change must ultimately reach people at the grassroots level and address the challenges faced by communities in their everyday lives.
5 · Building Bridges, Not Walls
At the heart of the initiative is a shared commitment: “We believe in cooperation, not confrontation; in building bridges, not walls; and in dialogue, not division.” Through the International Religious Freedom–Peace Builders Forum Pakistan, I-LAP seeks to build trust, strengthen relationships, promote religious freedom and interfaith harmony, and contribute to a more peaceful, inclusive, just, and prosperous Pakistan.
“We believe in cooperation, not confrontation; in building bridges, not walls; and in dialogue, not division.”International Religious Freedom–Peace Builders Forum Pakistan
Featured Media Coverage
The launch of the IRF Peace Builders Forum Pakistan received coverage in The News and We News English USA.
I-LAP Launches Religious Freedom Peace Builders Forum Pakistan
The newspaper cutting above is from The News. The soft version of this coverage is available online through The News.
READ ONLINE — THE NEWS →Peace Forum Launched in Pakistan to Advance Religious Freedom and Interfaith Harmony
A separate soft-copy news version is also available from We News English USA.
READ ONLINE — WE NEWS ENGLISH USA →Celebrating Pakistan · August 2026
Each photograph is clickable and opens the original full-size image.
Building Peace. Strengthening Freedom.
Through the International Religious Freedom–Peace Builders Forum Pakistan, I-LAP seeks to build trust, strengthen relationships, promote religious freedom and interfaith harmony, and contribute to a more peaceful, inclusive, just and prosperous Pakistan.