Pakistani girl writes to PM Modi, makes impassioned plea for peace
As BJP had a grand Holi after their thumping victory in UP polls, a Pakistani girl has penned a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealing to him to work as harbinger of peace “if he wants to win more elections in future.”
Aqeedat Naveed (11), in her letter to the PM, said that governments of Pakistan and India should buy more books, instead of bullets, to start a new chapter of peace between the two countries. “Both countries should resolve that they will not buy guns, but will provide free medicines to hundreds of thousands of ailing people of both the nations,” she says.
Aqeedat’s father Ahmed Naveed, an assistant professor in National College of Arts (NCA), Lahore, informed HT through a mail about her letter to Modi. Aqeedat and her brother Moarikh Naveed (14) also spoke to HT over phone.
The two-page handwritten letter, dated March 13, by Aqeedat says both countries will benefit by maintaining good relations with each other.
Aqeedat has earned accolades in her country for writing letters in support of peace and tolerance to world leaders, including that of India and Pakistan.
In another letter, Aqeedat and her brother Moarikh Naveed (14) have written to Pakistan’s chief of army staff Qamar Javed Bajwa congratulating him for the success of the recently launched operation ‘Radd-ul-Fasaad’ against terrorists. She praised him for his efforts to restore peace.
The duo also drew the attention of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to the condition of Sikhs in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, where the Sikhs continue to live without basic necessities.
Aqeedat studies in Class 5 at Cathedral School, Lahore while Moarrikh is in Class 8 in the same school.
Peace letter writing was Moarrikh’s idea. He said, “I took this idea from my syllabus and started writing letters for peace.” Aqeedat just followed him.
The siblings want to see tourists in Pakistan like India. Aqeedat feels that just because they don’t have any relatives here, they cannot travel to India. She wants to see Taj Mahal and Delhi. She also thinks many children from India may be wanting to visit Lahore.
Earlier, too, the kids have written letters to leaders in India. “PM Modi sent a greeting card to us in return,” claimed Moarrikh’s father.
Indian ambassador in Islamabad Gautam Bambawale also answered Aqeedat’s letter. Aqeedat also received a greeting card from 2016 Nobel peace prize winner and Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos.
When foreign minister Sushma Swaraj was unwell some time back, Aqeedat wished her a speedy recovery through a letter.
She has written to Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, home minister Rajnath Singh and President Pranab Mukherjee among others.
The kids strongly believe that India and Pakistan can become good friends.
