Religious scholars and representatives of different religions Wednesday said that there is no space for terrorism, extremism and sectarian violence in Islam and leaders of all religious sects should announce to disassociate themselves from such elements. Speaking here at an event arranged by Pakistan Ulema Council (Tahir Ashrafi group), religious scholars from different schools of thought and representatives of different religions unanimously reconstituted National Reconciliatory Council.
The participants of the conference agreed upon a joint declaration according to which 'National Reconciliatory Council' will constitute various committees all over the country for eradication of extremism and sectarian violence and promotion of interfaith harmony and dialogue. The joint declaration also urged the government to implement National Action Plan (NAP) in letter and spirit to annihilate sectarian anarchy from the country.
The joint declaration also announced to endorse Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad and condemned Muslims' genocide in Myanmar by demanding the government of Pakistan to close Myanmar's Embassy in Pakistan. The conference also appealed media to play effective role for eradication of sectarian violence and for promotion of interfaith harmony not only during the days of Ashura but all over the year.
A resolution was also approved which lauded the decision of Saudi government of lifting ban on women-driving, stating that Islam has categorically defined women rights and Saudi government made a right move in this direction for the entire Muslim Ummah to be pursued in their respective countries.
'Unity of Ummah Conference' released the following code of conduct for maintaining peace during the month of Muharram-ul-Haram: (i) Any scholar, orator or cleric in his public sermons will not use sacrilegious remarks against Prophets, family and wives of the Holy Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), pious Caliphs, Imams and about Imam Mehdi and any religious sect will not support or endorse any blasphemer; (ii) Any Islamic sect should not be declared 'infidel' and any Muslim or non-Muslim should not be declared 'worthy of killing' and people of Pakistan and believers of all religious sects will live their lives as per rights given by the Constitution of Pakistan; (iii) There should be complete ban on usage of loudspeaker except for 'Azan' and Friday sermon, while people of all religions and religious sects will use loudspeakers for their religious congregations with permission of local administration; (iv) There should be a complete ban on publication of violent religious contents, hate-speeches, outrageous literature, books based on hateful content, CDs, websites carrying seditious content. Similarly there should be complete ban on hurting and outrageous religious slogans and no sacrilegious remarks will be made about Imams, Mujtahids and Islamic Jurisprudents ; (v) Joint religious congregations will be held to demonstrate solidarity within all religious sects; (vi) It is the responsibility of the government to ensure protection to the sacred and worship places of the minorities living in Pakistan; therefore government should handle strictly all the elements accomplice in posing threats to the minorities and worship places of the minorities and their properties in the country; (vii) the government should ensure implementation on NAP without any discrimination; (viii) Cohesive coordination mechanism should be maintained between local administration and administrators of Majalis and religious processions during Muharram-ul-Haram relating time schedule and routes of these processions; (ix) In case of any untoward incident and accident, members of National Reconciliatory Council will reach the incident place immediately and thwart public from violence and provocation.
The joint declaration also demonstrated solidarity with Muslims of Myanmar, Kashmir, Palestine and Syria. The conference was attended and addressed by PUC Chairman Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Ashrafi, Maulana Abdul Hameed Watto, Maulana Nauman Hashir, Maulana Tahir Aqeel Awan, Maulana Hafeez-ur-Rehman, Allama Syed Waqar-ul-Hassan Naqvi, Maulana Attaullah Shahab, Allama Tahir-ul-Hassan, Maulana Farooq Kashmiri, Justice (retd) Shafqat Abbasi, Maulana Qasim Qasmi, Maulana Tahir Rasheed Tanoli, Agha Inayat Shirazi, Allama Agha Mir, Maulana Mufti Rashid Mehmood, Maulana Saifullah Saifi, Musawar Abbasi Advocate, Sharjeel Anwar Rao and Kashif Chaudhry.