Lack of effective anti-polio measures: Pakistanis may face Hajj restrictions

Religious scholars on Wednesday warned that Pakistan could face Hajj and Umrah restrictions if effective anti-polio measures were not taken in the country. Scholars were addressing the inaugural session of a two-day international conference on 'Muslim scholars consultation on polio eradication' jointly organised by the Islamic International University and Al-Azhar University with the objective to brainstorm on the best strategies demonstrating solidarity across Muslim countries to ensure protection of children against polio.
The conference is the follow-up of the consultative conference held recently in Cairo. On the final day, the participants would form a task force and would issue a statement where final resolution would be announced. The task force would work in the most vulnerable parts of the country where polio teams were regularly attacked including Fata, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Karachi to educate people about the benefits of polio vaccination.
The conference was attended by a large number of scholars from Egypt, Yemen and Saudi Arabia, besides representatives of international institutions. Among the prominent were Dr Zia-ul-Haq IIUI, Dr Ahmad Yousif A Al-Draiweesh President IIUI, Dr Y Al-Mazrou, Maulana Sami-ul-Haq, Maulana Tayyab, Professor Dost Muhammad and representatives of Al-Azhar University who also addressed on this occasion.
They expressed concern about the dissemination of mis-information regarding polio in the name of Islam. They developed consensus that Muslim Ummah faces a serious problem of persistent polio prevalence that threatens all Muslim children. Religious scholars urged that removing the reservations of different religious sects and misconceptions hindering awareness campaign should also be cleared. Addressing the conference, religious scholars stressed the need for taking effective measures to control and eradicate polio.
Condemning the attacks on polio workers during anti-polio drive, Muslims scholars said that elements involved in such acts have no connection with Islam. Such acts are not only against the Islamic teachings but also inhume, the speakers maintained. They further said that misconception about anti-polio drive is the basic reason behind the sad attacks on polio workers.
Speakers further said that polio vaccination is the human right of every child. Islam teaches that healthy life is the basic right of every individual. According to the religious scholars parents' refusal to get their kids vaccinated is a sin. Therefore it is the duty of every person to create awareness about the anti-polio drive and remove the misconception in this regard, they maintained.