Clerics promise to maintain peace during month of Muharram

Staff Report

KARACHI: Participants of a conference on religious harmony and peace here on Tuesday said there was sectarian harmony in the country, though anti-national elements were trying to sow the seeds of discord.

They said clerics and the people would foil all anti-Islam conspiracies.

The conference was organised by the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi on at Idara Noor-e Haq. Prominent leaders of religious and religio-political parties attended the conference. Some of them were Maulana Abdul Karim Abid, Hafiz Mohammad Taqi, Maulana Asad Thanvi, Maulana Saleemullah, Qazi Ahmad Noorani, Hafiz Mohammad Salfi, Abdus Sattar Afghani, Maulana Kashif Sheikh, Malik Sarfaraz, Maulana Zamir Akhtar Mansoori and Maulana Abdul Waheed.

Dr Mairajul Huda Siddiqui, who presided over the conference, said in his presidential address due to the efforts of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) and the Milli Yekjehti Council law and order was normal in Karachi.

“The government by its act of dropping the religion column from passports has exposed itself to ridicule,” he said.

Referring to the disaster caused by the tsunami, he lamented that people the world over were shocked by the colossal tragedy, but the Pakistani government celebrated Basant and organised a sea festival.

Maulana Abdul Karim Abid of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) accused the government of pursuing a policy of divide and rule. “The government cannot succeed in its efforts as the people stand united,” he added.

He hoped that during Muharram religious tolerance and harmony would be displayed by the people of Karachi.

Hafiz Mohammad Taqi of the JUP said the government had failed to arrest even a single culprit involved in the killing of clerics showed its efficiency.

“It is the responsibility of the government to provide security of life and property to people, but the government has completely failed to discharge its obligations in this regard,” he said.

He said the MMA and the Milli Yakjehti Council had played a key role in establishing sectarian harmony not only in Karachi but all over the country.

People and ulema would foil conspiracies hatched by some elements to disturb the peaceful atmosphere in the city, he added.

Maulana Asad Thanvi said Pakistan being the only Islamic atomic power had become a cockpit of conspiracies of anti-Islam and anti-Pakistan elements. Their evil designs could be foiled only through unity, he added.

Qazi Ahmad Noorani of the JUP said the MMA was playing a key role in maintaining sectarian harmony in the city. He urged ulema and the people to remain vigilant against anti-Islam forces. Maulana Abdur Rauf, president of the Jamiat Ittehad Ulema Karachi, said the government claimed success in arresting those who attacked the president and the prime minister, but it failed to arrest the killers of ulema.

Leader of the Jamiat Ittehad Ulema Maulana Zameer Akhtar Mansoori accused foreign agents of attacking mosques and imambargahs with the aim of sparking sectarian clashes, but their efforts failed.

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