Declaration by Ulema in favour of polio drops: two-day international conference ends

Ulema on Thursday here urged parents to administer polio drops to their children to protect them from the crippling disease. The Ulema (Islamic scholars) from various schools of thought termed the attacks on polio workers un-Islamic adding that "we condemn this evil action against the innocent people".
Scholars issued a declaration at the end of two-day international conference of "Muslim Scholars Consultation on Polio Eradication" jointly organised by the Islamic International University and Al-Azhar University. The conference is being held at a time when the number of polio cases has already reached 12 in the last five months of current calendar year.
Scholars condemned the act of Shakeel Afridi in Abbottabad, saying that it has created hurdles and badly affected the polio vaccination drive. They also condemn the killing of innocent men, women and children in drone attacks. The event was follow up of the consultative conference held recently in Cairo. A large number of religious scholars from Egypt, Yemen and Saudi Arabia, besides representatives of international institutions participated in the two-day conference. Health experts, religious scholars and doctors made serious deliberations during the conference to find ways and means to eradicate polio from the country.
According to the declaration issued, here on Thursday, Muslim scholars ruled out the possibility that polio vaccine can result in infertility and impotency. "We condemn attacks on polio workers during anti-polio drive in strong words. These attacks are acts of cowardliness against the Islamic teachings and not acceptable at any cost", announced the declaration. Such attacks are declared as inhuman and un-Islamic and we urge that the services of these Shaheeds should be recognised on government level and arrangements for looking after the bereaved families be made. We also condemn the killing of innocent people and children in drone attacks, maintained in the declaration.
According to the declaration, "we recognise that it is utmost duty of the government to maintain peace and stability on the country's border on permanent basis that health facilities may be ensured in these areas along with anti-polio drive to eradicate this menace. It is appreciable that many Muslim countries have succeeded in eradicating polio by using anti-polio vaccine, maintained the declaration.
According to the statement issued, "We, scholars and intellectuals deliberated upon the questions raised about anti-polio vaccine and reached the conclusion that vaccine used in Pakistan for eradication polio is safe and effective. "We resolve that we will send the message to general public through scholars present at district and union council level that protection of polio team workers is our collective responsibility. We will create awareness among the people about polio and would extend our support to the scholars at union council and district levels to clear the misconception about anti-polio drops.
Scholars also condemned the act of Shakeel Afridi in Abbottabad, which has created suspensions about the measures about health. We strongly recommend that measures regarding health should be exclusively used for health. Religious scholars urged that besides clearing the reservations of different religious sects, social norms and misconceptions hindering awareness campaigns should also be cleared.