January 6, 2002	Sunday	Shawwal 21, 1422

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FAISALABAD, Jan 5: The Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan has asked the authorities concerned to suspend the police officials responsible for arresting its activists and leaders.

Talking to newsmen here on Saturday, SSP district vice-president Allama Tahirul Hassan and central leader Mujeebur Rehman Ludhianvi said that law enforcement agencies had violated all norms of justice during raids on houses and offices of religious leaders.

Criticizing the raids, they said the critical situation on borders required the government to create harmony among citizens rather causing harassment.

They said some high-ups of the Interior ministry had been playing in the hands of anti-Islam forces who were involved in targeting mosques and madaris.

Meanwhile, Punjab Tahafuz-i-Madaris Dinya, a recently formed body of over two dozen religious organizations, asked the government to immediately stop the crackdown against ulema.

This was stated by Punjab Jamiat Ulma-i-Islam amir Maulana Abdul Latif Anwar at a meeting held at Jamia Qasmia Ghulam Muhammadabad here on Saturday.

He also voiced his concern over the raids on mosques, madaris, offices and houses of religious leaders and termed it a harsh government step.

Some anti-state elements had hatched a conspiracy against the sovereignty of the country only to trigger hatred among the armed forces and religious organizations, he said.

The meeting passed a number of resolutions demanding the release of all the arrested religious leaders and activists and holding a round table conference to sort out the matter amicably.

Another resolution demanded that Jihadi organizations should also be taken into confidence on all issues especially the Kashmir. In addition, the government should also stop character assassination of ulema in the larger interest of peace in the country.

Another resolution claimed that there was not even a single madressa in the country where arms training was being imparted. Such baseless propaganda would inflict irreparable loss on the Kashmir cause, it added.

The meeting was attended by ulema and leaders, including Jamiat Ulma-i-Islam district amir Sahibzada Zahid Qasmi, Anjuman Khudamuddin Faisalabad amir Maulana Sabir Sarhandi and Faisalabad Peace Committee chairman Pir Muhammad Ibrahim.