MANSEHRA: Around 300 clerics from Deoband school of thought on Friday declared the Rs10,000 monthly stipend paid by the provincial government to prayer leaders haram (forbidden).
The declaration was made during a function organised by the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl here.
Acting provincial emir of the JUI-F Mufti Kifayatullah told participants that the joint decree had barred prayer leaders from receiving the government stipend by declaring it haram.
He said the payment was planned under an ‘international conspiracy’ against clerics.
The JUI-F leader said the PTI government had secured money from international nongovernmental organisations to ‘buy’ loyalties of clerics and therefore, his party and religious scholars would raise voice against the move.
Another speaker, Maulana Saeed Abdullah, said the Imam Conference would be organised here on February 5 to persuade prayer leaders from all schools of thought to reject monthly stipend.
Meanwhile, the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf rejected the decree declaring it unjustified and unwarranted.
PTI Youth Wing president Mohammad Nisar told reporters that the government had been paying a monthly stipend to prayer leaders to help them manage their household affairs well.
He said the JUI-F should stop spreading false propaganda against the stipend’s payment.
