Efforts on for interfaith harmony, says Ashrafi

LAHORE: Muttahida Ulema Board, Punjab Chairman Hafiz Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi has said that action against banned organisations is not aimed at targeting the seminaries and mosques. Endeavours for interfaith harmony and unity in the country will be continued through the platform of Muttahida Ulema Board Punjab.

Addressing a press conference here Thursday, Hafiz Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi accompanied by Muttahida Ulema Board Coordinator Ziaul Haq Naqshbandi, stated that in accordance with National Action Plan (NAP), targeted action was being carried out against the banned organisations responsible for fanning extremism and violence in the country. He stated that the government was willing to ensure implementation of NAP adding that leading scholars and representatives of all the religious schools of thought were united to support the government to take action against the elements responsible for fanning fanaticism and to ensure durable peace and religious harmony in the country.

He resolved that endeavours would be continued to ensure interfaith harmony and to make unity among Muslims. He stated that it has been recommended to ban 250 books (magazines, journals) and recordings-CDs of 40 religious sermons. With the consultation of leading religious scholars 'Code of Conduct' for Muttahida Ulema Board has been drafted.

Responding to a question, he said that basic point of NAP was that neither anyone would be allowed to interfere in Pakistan nor Pakistan will allow anyone to interfere in any other country while sitting in Pakistan. More than 90 percent seminaries and mosques in Pakistan are functioning in accordance with the law and Constitution of the country, said Tahir Ashrafi adding that prevailing issue relating registration of seminaries and mosques in Pakistan would be sorted out soon. Muttahida Ulema Board Punjab has been constituted with representation of all the religious schools of thought and leading religious scholars have been nominated as its members by the Punjab government, he said.

Responding to another query, he said that strict legal action was being taken against the elements responsible for publishing hateful and violent content. He announced that action being taken by law enforcement agencies against banned outfits had nothing to do with the issues of seminaries and mosques. Law enforcement agencies are taking action against elements responsible for terrorist and extremist activities in the country.

Ashrafi also announced that sub-committees from the platform of Muttahida Ulema Board, Punjab would be constituted at divisional, district and tehsil level, which will be comprised on scholars from the respective areas to ensure implementation of the board’s decisions. A systematic mechanism will be constituted to ensure coordination among members of the board. We are in constant contact with leading scholars from all over the Muslim world against Indian aggression, he concluded.