Siraj accuses govt of undermining unity

LAHORE
Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) ameer Sirajul Haq has said the Peshawar tragedy has united the nation and caused big changes in policies, but the government seems to undermine national unity and harmony.
Addressing a meeting of JI central Shoora at Mansoora on Thursday, the JI leader said the government should have tried to further promote national unity, but the Constitutional amendment incorporating the words of religion and sect had inflicted a serious blow to national unity. He said the government attitude towards Islam and Islamic signs and symbols was also deplorable.
He said the Constitutional amendment had opened doors for terrorists to kill as many people as they liked only if they were clean shaven, wearing trousers and shirts and not Shalwar Kameez. The amendment had given licence to kill everybody who is not supporting a beard and is not wearing a cap, he added.
He said the nation would not forgive those who tried to thrust dictatorship in the name of democracy. He said JI had suggested that in the official amendment, the words “ religion” and “sect”, should be replaced by “educational institutions”.
Had the government not done haste in getting the 21st amendment passed, the atmosphere of national unity should have been promoted further, he added. Sirajul Haq remarked that JI would not let the tears shed by PPP Senator Raza Rabbani go waste, and added democracy and democratic institutions would flourish in the country.
JI chief stressed that a list of those convicted in terrorism cases should be prepared to ascertain how many of them had been studying at seminaries and how many were associated with colleges and universities.
He said the objective of targeting seminaries was to place restrictions on Islam and Islamic institutions, so that secular agenda could be advanced on the behest of western powers.
Sirajul Haq said civil war and conflicts were going on in as many as thirteen Muslim countries where Muslims were shedding the blood of other Muslims. He said by closing the doors of democracy, people had been driven to the gun. He said imposing an opinion on someone by force was against Islam. He said entire nation condemned terrorism and added JI had offered greatest sacrifices for the country.
Namaz-e-Istasqa: Sirajul Haq has appealed to the nation to offer Namaz-e-Istasqa (prayers) on Friday (today) for rain.
He urged Ulema and Khateebs to pray for rain in Friday sermons. He said the country had passed through a prolonged drought and entire nation should seek forgiveness from Allah Almighty. Meanwhile, the JI chief hoped that the national Cricket Team would give best performance in the World Cup.