The Tanzeemat-e-Madaris al Islamia (TMI), the central body of religious educational institutions has strongly condemned the “malicious propaganda” against madaris which they allege are being maligned “under pressure from the West”.
In a TMI meeting held at Mansoora, the participants urged the government to immediately stop the campaign unleashed against Islam, Islamic signs, mosques and the religious educational institutions, “under the cover of the Peshawar tragedy”.
The TMI meeting was presided over by Jamat-e-Islami ameer Sirajul Haq. Tanzeemul Madaris Ahle Sunat President Munibur Rahman, Chief Organisor Abdul Mustafa Hazarvi, Muhammad Hanif Jalandri, Wifawqul madaris al Salfia Chief Oragniser Yaseen Zafar, Ghulam Muhammad Sialvi and Abdul Malik.
The moot declared that the male and female students attending the madaris were “loyal to Pakistan” and were ready to lay down their lives for the country.
A declaration adopted unanimously at the meeting termed all terrorist attacks including the Peshawar terrorist attack “heinous crimes against Islam and humanity”, adding that Islam does not permit the killing of innocent people, women, minors and the aged even during the war.
The participants fully supported the counter terrorism plan adopted unanimously by the civil and military leadership, adding that this was the need of the hour for the security, peace and stability of Pakistan.
The meeting strongly condemned the attempts to bracket terrorism with religion, and alleged that this was a “calculated plan of secular elements, colonial powers and the Zionists to malign religion”.
The moot reiterated that madaris were the seats of teaching of the Holy Quran and ahadith and declared them “the fortresses of Islam”.
“Mosques and the madaris have been functioning in the region for centuries with the prevailing curriculum to promote Islamic values, brotherhood and religious knowledge in the society,” said the participants.
Stating that madaris had nothing to do with terrorism or extremism in the country, the declaration noted that out of those charged with terrorism only “a few” were related to madaris.
It stated that the onus of any terror act of an individual having past link with a madressa could not be placed on the madaris in general, adding that there was “no justification for the propaganda against madaris.