Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Sunday called for joint efforts and voice by the government, society and religious scholars against the elements, who were creating negative thinking in the name of Islam and bringing bad name to country and religion.
"The government, society and Ulema should raise their voice against such elements, who are misled and are creating negative thinking", the Prime Minister said while addressing the concluding session of National Seerat Conference here.
The conference was organised by the Ministry of Religious Affairs in connection with Eid Milad-un-Nabi, the birthday of Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
The Prime Minister said: "Islam abhors violence and preaches peace, brotherhood, tolerance and harmony and we should not let anyone to do wrong things in the name of Islam."
He said Madaris (religious seminaries) were considered very important in every religion and society, as those played vital role in imparting education and knowledge about the religion to youth. Shaukat Aziz said the government had initiated reforms of the country's Madaris and so far 13,000 Madaris had been registered. He said given the situation in the world where the Muslims were confronted with various challenges, there was a need to change the thinking and attitude, without any compromise on the basic fundamentals.
The Prime Minister, referring to renowned Muslim mathematicians and scientists like Al-Bairooni and Ibn-e-Sina, stressed the need for a fine balance of religious and scientific education in Madaris.
He said the government would extend every support, including finances, to Madaris and help improve curriculum for creating such balance in education. The Prime Minister said: "We have to present before the world the true values and philosophy of Islam, which is a religion of peace and harmony."
He said Pakistan, which was created after great sacrifices of the Muslims of the sub-continent, had the pride of being the only nuclear state in Muslim world and "we have to strengthen it and take it forward on the path of peace, progress and prosperity." The Prime Minister also called for unity and harmony among the Muslim states from the platform of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) to face the challenges of globalisation with unity and strength.