Call to audit foreign funding to seminaries

LAHORE

Aid from foreign countries to seminaries is the root cause of sectarianism in Pakistan and the government should audit this funding. This was the keynote demand at a convention titled 'Tajdeed-e-Azm' held under the aegis of the Islami Yekjehti Council on Sunday. Main speakers on the convention included former foreign minister Sardar Assef Ahmad Ali, PPP leader Prof Ijazul Hasan, Abdul Qadir Shaheen, Qazi Abdul Qadeer Khamosh, Bishop Samuel Azaraiah and others. A joint declaration passed on the occasion also suggested to review and amend legislation made during General Ziaul Haq regime that, the declaration said, had caused religious hatred and sectarianism. The declaration also condemned the Indian atrocities on Kashmiris and demanded the world community to help give right of self-determination to Kashmiris in accordance with the UN resolutions.