Pakistan Ulema Council backs new exam board for seminaries

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Ulema Council has announced full support for new examination boards for the seminaries.

“An international media organization is conspiring to fan sectarian hatred in Pakistan and in this regard, Ministry of Information has been conveyed to take immediate steps,” said a joint declaration issued here on Wednesday following the meeting of Central Executive Committee of Pakistan Ulema Council.

Chairman Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) Special Representative to Prime Minister on Interfaith Harmony and Middle East Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi chaired the CEC meeting of Pakistan Ulema Council here on Wednesday.

The meeting welcomed PM Imran Khan's initiative to legislate the recommendations of the Islamic Ideology Council and amendment in the Evacuee Trust Property Act following consultations with the Ulema and Mashaikh.

The meeting said campaigning against national security institutions and Pakistan Army on account of freedom of expression was unacceptable. It also adopted a resolution praising the government's stance on the Kashmir issue and Palestine and said joint efforts of the Government of Pakistan along with the Islamic countries for a Palestinian-Israeli ceasefire were commendable. The joint declaration said that efforts on part of Pakistan and Egyptian president reflect the sentiments of the entire Islamic world.

Another resolution demanded of the government to immediately stop programs and advertisements on social media and electronic media against the ideology of Pakistan and also asked the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to immediately remove hateful content from social media spreading sectarian hatred. The joint declaration said that the government with the formation of new examination boards for seminaries had fulfilled 40-year- old demand of Madaris-e-Arabia. The Madaris affiliated with the PUC have every right to join any board they want.

They said that Pakistan's role for peace and stability in Afghanistan was very important. They said that Pakistanis love Afghanistan and the Afghans and added the Afghan groups should resolve their issues through dialogue. They said that peace in Afghanistan was peace in Pakistan and extended full support to the Pak-Afghan Ulema Conference.

The clerics said that the PUC is the protector of Madaris and mosques. “Pakistan Ulema Council is the protector of Namoos-e-Risalat and belief in the Finality of Prophethood,” said the clerics. It said the Pakistan Ulema Council is a political and religious party and welcomes the participation of lawyers, businessmen and people of other walks of life in the PUC. The Ulema and Mashaikh Conventions will be held across the country, said the joint declaration adding that both violence and unproven accusations were reprehensible. The Ulemas-Mashaikh said the people should get vaccinated and advised them not to believe in rumors.