Ulema convention calls for complete implementation of NAP

LAHORE

Ulema and religious leaders addressing at Ulema Convention have said Madaris (seminaries) and Masajid (mosques) have no link with terrorism and extremism and the countrywide campaign against terrorism, extremism and sectarian violence will be carried out in an organised way. 

The convention was held on Sunday by Pakistan Ulema Council at Jamia Masjid Makki (Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park). The convention was chaired by Pakistan Ulema Council Chairman Tahir Ashrafi. 

The speakers emphasised that it is need of the hour that Muslim youths should be guided against ‘Takfiri Ideologies’ to contain propaganda of extremist organisations and demanded of the government ensure implementation on National Action Plan (NAP). They demanded of the government to release all those religious leaders taken in custody on suspicion. 

The speakers said extremism and terrorism should not be associated with seminaries and mosques. 

They said terrorists and extremists are targeting to allure Muslim youths and amidst this scenario, Muslim Ulema, scholars and religious leadership should come forward to guide Muslim youths against nefarious propaganda of extremists. They said seminaries and mosques are playing their pivotal role in spreading message of Islam. 

Tahir Ashrafi addressing the convention said Pakistan came into being in the name of Islam and the day is not far off when Pakistan will be made an Islamic welfare state. 

“In Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park attack, innocent children and women were targeted by terrorists. Whereas Holy Prophet (PBUH) has strictly prohibited to raise hands against children and women even in battlefield. Some anti-Pakistan elements were hatching conspiracies to create mistrust and distance between security departments of Pakistan and religious leadership,” said Tahir Ashrafi, adding all political and religious leadership are united and loyal to security departments for eradication of terrorism, extremism and sectarian violence. He said students and teaching staff of Madaris-e-Arabia are more loyal to Pakistan than any other Pakistani. 

At the convention, a code of conduct on behalf of Wafaq-ul-Masajid Pakistan was presented for seminaries and mosques of Pakistan. 

The convention expressed solidarity with martyrs of Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park attack and demanded of Punjab government through a resolution to carry out an indiscriminate action against terrorists and extremists in Punjab and affirmed that leadership of Masajid and seminaries affiliated with Pakistan Ulema Council and Wafaq-ul-Masajid Pakistan are not impediment to operation against extremists and terrorists. A 10-point code of conduct for all Masajid and seminaries affiliated with Pakistan Ulema Council and Wafaq-ul-Masajid Pakistan was approved to be followed by students and teaching staff and Ulema and Imams. 

Maulana Zahid Mehmood Qasmi, Maulana Muhammad Ayub Safdar, Maulana Khadim Hussein, Maulana Muhammad Mushtaq Lahori, Maulana Qari Abdul Hakeem, Maulana Abdul Qayyum, Maulana Muhammad Aslam Qadri, Maulana Islam-ud-Din and Maulana Abdullah Rasheedi were the prominent speakers at the convention.