November 16, 2001	Friday	Shaba'an 29, 1422

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PESHAWAR, Nov 15: The NWFP government has decided to extend the Auqaf Act to all Malakand areas and appoint Khateebs in seven districts and tehsils.

This was stated by Governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah at a meeting of Ulema here on Thursday, said a handout.

The NWFP Minister for Auqaf and Religious Affairs, Qari Roohullah Madani, was also present on the occasion.

He said that the government had planned to send Pakistan Ulema to foreign countries to update their knowledge, but due to the prevailing situation in Afghanistan, this could not be done.

The governor said that efforts were under way to raise the income of the Auqaf Department properties that would be utilized for the welfare of the Ulema community. He said the Auqaf Act had also been imposed on the Malakand and expressed the hope that after fully implementing the Act a majority of the problems of the Ulema would be solved.

Referring to the role played by Pakistan in the action against terrorism in Afghanistan, he said the decision to oppose terrorism in Afghanistan resulted from the UN Security Council’s resolution. He said that Pakistan was a member of the UN and when the resolution was unanimously adopted by all the UN member countries, Pakistan had no other way but to support the same. He said the same decision benefited Pakistan in such a way that the two main anti-Muslim countries like India and Israel were kept out of the international coalition against terrorism.

Referring to the Taliban movement, he said, he had visited Afghanistan some years back and had himself observed the actual situation. The Taliban had closed down schools and prohibited the women even to serve in the hospitals.

He said all countries had asked Taliban not to destroy statues of Buddha at Baimyan but they never listened to anyone. He said the believers of other religions should be facilitated to accept Islam not by force but by deeds.