Musharraf era: chief minister Punjab for withdrawal of cases against Ulema, Mashaikh

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that the role played by Mashaikh during the Pakistan Movement and in different eras is a glorious chapter of the national history. He was addressing a gathering of Mashaikh at Chief Minister Secretariat here on Sunday in which a large number of sajjada nashins of prominent shrines of the province were present.
Advisor to Zulfiqar Ali Khosa, Provincial Aquaf Minister Ehsan ud Din Qureshi and members of national and provincial assemblies were also present.
The Chief Minister said that the Ulema and Mashaikh had rendered invaluable services in religious and national issues and it was due to their teachings that Islam spread in the subcontinent.
He said that these personalities are benefactors of the nation and their descendents also deserve all respect and veneration as they are the custodian of these Dargahs and Astanas. He stressed that Ulema and Mashaikh as well as all segments of the society will have to play their role for rooting out terrorism from the country.
He said that Punjab government is fully aware of its responsibilities towards elimination of terrorism and protection of the shrines of the saints. He said that besides increasing security staff at shrines, closed circuit TV system is also being improved.
The CM said that government is taking all necessary measures for the protection of shrines and will succeed in efforts with the co-operation of Ulema. He said that had there not been proper security arrangements at Pakpattan, the terrorists would have succeeded in entering the premises of the shrine and caused a lot of damage.
Punjab CM said that Ulema and Mashaikh should come forward and play their role of guiding the people in the right direction. He gave instructions to the administration to check provocative wall chalking and withdraw all cases registered in Musharraf era for protesting against blasphemy.
He said that he had personally seen the effects of the brutal activities of terrorists at the shrines of Data Ganj Bakhsh and Baba Farid Gung Shakkar and his pain and agony could not be described in words.
Shahbaz said that these incidents of terrorism have caused grief and anguish to million of devotees of the saints in Pakistan and abroad. He said that these murderers of mankind will be punished in the world herein and the world hereafter. He said that Punjab government has evolved a comprehensive system for safeguarding the shrines.
The CM said that it is an honour for him to play host to Mashaikh, and added that Ulema and Mashaikh played an exemplary role in Pakistan Movement otherwise Pakistan perhaps would not have come into existence. He said that Mashaikh issued decrees in favour of Pakistan Movement and also extended all-out support to Quaid-e-Azam.
He said that during the previous tenure of Pakistan Muslim League-N government, when sectarian killings reached an alarming level, his government dealt with the elements that were engaged in sectarian violence with an iron hand due to which this menace was controlled to a great extent.
He said that the situation now has reached a critical stage and different elements including extremists, drug peddlers and enemies of the country have become involved in terrorism in Pakistan.
He said that the government will succeed in curbing this menace with the co-operation of Ulema and Mashaikh as well as general public.
The Chief Minister said that the serious challenge of terrorism being faced by the country is the outcome of eight years dictatorial role during which the dictator remained engaged in compromising national interests at international level.
He said that this 'Merchant of Enlightenment' pushed the nation into the abyss of violence, only to prolong his role. He said that Ulema and Mashaikh who faced oppression and torture during Musharraf dictatorship for upholding truth deserve all credit and their services will be written in golden letters in the national history. He stated that the enemies of Islam and Pakistan are on the rampage but Pakistani nation stands united and will foil their nefarious designs. He said that Ulema should point out the weaknesses of the government but it is also their duty to identify the element as are involved in bloodbath and hatching conspiracies against Pakistan.
The Mashaikh, while expressing their views, paid tributes to Chief Minister for his services to the flood-affectees assured their full support in the war against terrorism. Imran Ahmad Shah, Intikhab Ahmad Noori, Khalil-ur-Rehman Chishti, Noor Muhammad Sahu, Moin-ud-din Koreja, Ahmad Mehmood Chishti, Amin-ul-Hasnat Shah, Dr Raghib Hussain Naeemi, Dr Mazhar Farid, Abdul Aziz Chishti, Muhammad Shafi, Saeed Sabri, Fazal Rasool Shah, Nabeel-ur-Rehman Shah, Ali Abbas Hussaini, Muhammad Imran and Waseem-ul-Hassan also spoke on the occasion.