Every effort to undermine the institutions of mosques and the madrassas will be strongly resisted while all those talking of demolishing and “setting on fire“ the mosques would meet the fate of Abraha, said Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Ameer Sirajul Haq on Wednesday while addressing the national conference in memory of late former JI Ameer Qazi Husain Ahmed at Aiwan-i-Iqbal.
“Pakistan is like mother to us and the centre of our love, and living and dying fort the country is the part of our faith. These are no hollow slogans as we have offered sacrifices for this country,” he added.
Haq said that anyone who took up arms in the name of religion was a criminal like the one who took up arms for any regional, ethnic or communal cause. He noted that the first decree against terrorism was given by the imam of the Holy Ka’ba.
He urged the government to try to create national harmony by striving to restore peace in the light of the decisions of the three All Parties Conferences (APCs), instead of harassing the three million Madrassa students. The government should not shake the national unity created against terrorism, he added.
The JI ameer said that the rulers could please the US by declaring a war against the Islam lovers and by executing them but in that case, they would not be earning the pleasure of Allah and His Prophet. He said that the religion should not be blamed for terrorism because religion only preached love, tolerance and harmony. He said that the government had not accepted the amendment presented by the JI although that was in the interest of all.
Haq said that Qazi Husain Ahmed had struggled against injustice till his last breath. “Qazi Sahib was a practical man and people all over the world had great love and respect for him,” he added.
Prime Minister’s Adviser Irfan Siddiqi said the government cannot think of passing a legislation which goes against the spirit of Islam. “Pakistan is an Islamic Republic and will remain the same way. The entire nation is united against this menace of terrorism,” he added.
Mujeebur Rehman Shami said that Qazi Hussain Ahmed was not just a leader of Pakistani people but had an international standing. He said that the country is missing the expertise of Qazi Sahab in the ongoing circumstances. He also related an anecdote when Qazi visited Turkey once, in the host country’s stadium the crowd started shouting Allah-o-Akbar, showing his popularity across borders.
Hassan Nisar, however, shared his personal memories with the late JI leader saying Qazi named his daughter, said Azaan in her ears after her birth. “He would always treat me as a younger brother and I have had great association with him,” he said, adding that today’s leaders are “petty” people compared to the great character that the late leader had. “Qazi had done a lot way before in time but the people here did not know how to pay tribute to such a great leader,” Nisar added.
Speakers at the moot paid rich tributes to Qazi Husain Ahmed for his “valuable services” for the unity of the Ummah and for the solution of the problems being faced by the country and the Muslim world. The moot held on the occasion of the second death anniversary of Qazi Husain Ahmed, was addressed among others by Pir Ejaz Hashmi, Abdur Rashid Turabi, Ejaz Ahmed Chaudhary, Ibtesam Elahi Zaheer, Hafiz Raza Kazim, Sahibzada Ali Ahmed Sultan Bahu and Hasan Nisar.