Preach unity to cross the divide, PM to clerics

• Nawaz says govt to foil all conspiracies, to play its role to forge unity; say distortion of Jihad’s real message led to rise of extremism

Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Saturday called upon the Islamic scholars to play their effective role in promoting unity among society, besides effectively dispelling the false propaganda against real teachings of Islam.

Addressing a seminar held at the Darul Uloom Jamia Naeemia here, he regretted that throughout the world, the real teachings of Islam were distorted but the Islamic scholars and religious leaders had the panacea for such challenges by utilising their pulpits to spread the true picture of religion.

The government and the religious scholars would collectively foil all attempts, aimed at creating fissure in the society and with their joint efforts strengthen peace in Pakistan, he said. In 2013, when the Pakistan Muslim League-N was given mandate to run affairs of the government, it was his objective to secure lives of people and bring about lasting peace, he added.

The prime minister said that the government resolved that all the political forces were taken on board, while personnel of army and police tackled the challenge with bravery and sacrifices whereas people manifested unity to face the menace. “We have fought the greatest war against terrorism in the world,” he said, adding the hands of terrorists were broken and their centres destroyed.

Though lone attacks occurred in the country which were facilitated by sympathisers of certain elements, he noted and said that the state was looking after them and would bring them to justice. The terrorists had no race and religion, he said and questioned whether the blood of Mufti Muhammad Sarfraz Naeemi or hundreds of others would go waste.

Lauding role of the late Mufti Naeemi, he said that such religious leaders had worked for the unity of the nation through their untiring efforts and teachings. He said that fanning of negative sentiments of sectarianism and distortion of the real message of Jihad led to rise of extremism in the world. He said that the deviated and extremist elements had sowed seeds of discord among the Muslims and carried out inhuman acts of massacre.

The Islamic scholars and religious leaders like the late Mufti Sarfraz Naeemi and Mualana Hassan Jan had given edicts against such elements and laid down their lives for the religious duty and great cause of unity, the prime minister said. He also expressed the hope that their disciples would not budge from the path, chosen by these personalities.

He regretted that besides religious and sectarianism basis, efforts were also being made by deviated elements to sow seeds of discord on the provincial basis. They were trying to avenge for their rejection from the public, he said. But the government would foil all such conspiracies and play its role to further forge unity among all ranks of the society as it had done during the creation of Pakistan by uniting Muslims, he said.

Prime Minister Nawaz said that they would thwart negative propaganda of creating provincial prejudices among the Punjabis, Pakhtuns, Sindhis, Mohajir and other federating units as the nation had rejected such attempts in the successful holding of Pakistan Super League finale in Lahore. “Through PSL, the nation showed that Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, Karachi… all were against terrorism. We are knitted together in bonds of brotherhood,” he added.

He said that the government would discard elements of hatred and disunity and urged religious leaders to raise voice against provincial bias as well. He also stressed upon the Islamic scholars to promote narrative handed over by their predecessors, depicting the messages of religious freedom, the real image of Islam and the teachings of Holy Quran.

The young generation should also be educated with the teachings of Islam from the pulpits of mosques and seminaries, he said. He said through such narrative, new generation should be taught that those elements had no relation whatsoever with the religion who carried out massacre in the name of sectarianism. National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique and a large number of scholars were present on the occasion.

Prime Minister Nawaz said that the seminaries had always been the centres of religious education and effective source to dispel misleading propaganda, aimed at creating disharmony among the society. He lauded the role played by the Jamia Naeemia and observed that visiting the seminary had always been a great source of spiritual experience. He also paid tribute to the late Mufti Muhammad Hussain Naeemi and Mufti Sarfraz Naeemi for their services to religion and the society.