Fazl says he represents the entire Ummah, not any sect 

NOWSHERA: The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Ameer, Maulana Fazlur Rahman, on Saturday said he is not representing any sect and he is a representative of Islam.

Addressing the participants at the centennial celebrations of the JUI-F at Azakhel in Nowshera, Fazlur Rahman recalled that he had said this on the floor of the National Assembly and was repeating it again that he was not representing a single party or sect but the entire Ummah.

He said that the JUI-F long ago advocated peace which was being discussed nowadays. He said that Sheikhul Hadith Hazrat Maulana Mehmoodul Hassan had first raised voice for peace and harmony and the JUI-F was taking forward his mission.

The Maulana said the JUI-F wanted an end to violence not only in the country but also in the world and was seeking justice for all without any discrimination. He thanked the leaders of various political parties and religious scholars for attending the centenary celebrations of the JUI-F.

He said the JUI-F was a party of peace and would take all along with it in a spirit of peace and co-existence. “We will set an example for the world with our character,” he added.

Senate Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani, while speaking on the occasion, condemned the US missile strikes in Syria and advised the federal government to make decisions at the United Nations by exercising extreme caution. He called for convening a joint session of parliament to discuss the situation arising in the aftermath of the US missile strikes on a Syrian airfield and Pakistan's reaction to the development. He urged the Muslim countries to foil conspiracies against Islam.

Raza Rabbani said the government should adopt an unambiguous stance on the crisis which had emanated after the US missile strikes. He said a well-thought conspiracy had been hatched against Islam. He added that terrorism was being linked with Islam to defame the Muslims.

“The Muslims around the globe are being portrayed as terrorists. The Western countries want to pit the Muslims against each other and are succeeding in their designs,” he added. He said Islam had nothing to do with terrorism. He hoped the JUI-F congregation would give a positive message to the entire world that the Muslims were united and peace-loving people.

“The JUI-F congregation is a good omen and would send a positive message to the world,” he added.

The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief, Sirajul Haq, who also addressed the congregation, said he has given the authority of alliance among the religious parties to Fazlur Rahman. He also urged the need for unity among Muslim Ummah.

Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah, who like Raza Rabbani also belongs to the PPP, was also present on the occasion. A delegation of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), led by the party’s Chairman Senator Raja Zafarul Haq, also visited and participated in the congregation.

The Bishop of the United Church of Pakistan, Reverend Nazir Alam also attended the event.

A large number of JUI-F members and sympathisers attended the three-day event on its second day at the tented village set up in the vast grounds of Azakhel.

Khursheed Shah said terrorism was being linked with Islam to portray Muslims as terrorists. He said that unity of the Muslims was the need of the hour. He said the then prime minister and PPP founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had gathered the leaders of the Muslim world on a single platform by organising the Islamic Conference in Lahore. He asked the government to convene a meeting of the leaders of the Muslim countries to chalk out a joint strategy to protect the rights and interests of Muslims.

Bishop Nazir Alam said a terrorist had no religion, class, caste or creed. He argued that terrorism should not be linked with any religion. He said Islam was the religion of peace and the minorities enjoyed religious freedom in Pakistan. He said anti-Muslim forces were conspiring to create anarchy in Pakistan. He pointed out that the JUI-F never caused harm to the minorities and that inspired him to join the party.

Zafarul Haq said the PML-N delegation participated in the congregation on the directions of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.  Foreign delegations also visited Azakhel and addressed the congregation.