KARACHI, March 14: There is complete sectarian harmony among the people and all religious parties and Ulema of different schools of thought are united, but the government has failed miserably in maintaining law and order.

Demanding closing down political wings of official secret agencies, speakers at a conference titled “Religious Tolerance and peace conference” urged the government to desist from keeping Ulema and Mashaikh under observation and monitoring them.

The conference, held under the auspices of the Jamaat-i-Islami at Idara Noor-i-Haq on Thursday with Prof Ghafoor Ahmed in the chair, was addressed by Allama Hasan Turabi, Maulana Abdul Karim Abid, Hafiz Taqi, Dr Mairajul Huda Siddiqi, Allama Abbas Kumaili, Alay Ahmed Bilgrami, Maulana Azmatullah Hamdani, Mufti Usman Yar Khan, Mirza Yusuf Husain, Maulana Irshadul Haq Thanvi, Maulana Intizarul Haq Thanvi, Maulana Khan Mohammed Rabbani, Maulana Yusuf Qasuri, Allama Ferozuddin Rahmani, Maulana Abdul Rauf, Maulana Allahdad, Alhaj Shamimuddin, Alhaj Mohammed Rafi, Abu Mohammed Akhtar and Maulana Abdul Majid Asharafi.

All of these Ulema said there existed complete understanding, harmony and tolerance among all sects of the Ummah.

Prof Ghafoor alleged the government, on the one hand, had given full freedom to killers and bandits but, on the other, it was busy in conspiring against religious and political parties and Ulema and making efforts to give a bad name to them. He warned that if killers were not arrested, the government would be responsible for the consequences.

Accusing the rulers of neglecting their duty, the JI leader said today every citizen in Karachi was grieved, but at the official level entertainment programmes continued and PTV had failed to reflect the true feelings of the people.

“Indian armed forces are deployed on our borders and Muslims are being massacred in India, but our ruling classes are unconcerned,” Prof Ghafoor lamented.

Terming the doctors’ protest and strike justified, he said the targeted killing of doctors would have its negative fallout on society. “The targeted killing of doctors is sheer terrorism, and it has no links with sectarianism,” he added.

He said President Musharraf banned six parties on Jan 12 and unleashed a crackdown throughout the country against supporters of religious parties to give an impression as if peace would be restored following the action, but the government had failed miserably in restoring peace and law and order.

Allama Hasan Turabi said people belonging to all schools of thought would have to act in such a manner as to foil the conspiracies of mischievous elements.

He said the way in which doctors were being targeted was incomprehensible.

Maulana Abdul Karim Abid said the government should realize its duty and take serious and practical steps to restore law and order.

Hafiz Taqi said attempts were being made to trigger sectarian riots in the city. The government had been repeatedly claiming to stop killings, but the reality gave a lie to all such claims, he deplored.

Allama Abbas Kumaili stressed the need for practical Jihad against terrorism and sectarianism, saying struggle was also needed to remove the causes of mutual misunderstandings.

The conference adopted a declaration pledging that Ulema and religious leaders of different schools of thought, with mutual cooperation, would strive for establishing tolerance and peace in Karachi.

Expressing grief over the killings in Karachi, particularly the recent targeted killing of doctors, the conference lodged its protest at this national loss.

“We want that in the month of Muharram there should be peace and tranquillity in Karachi and such matters be avoided as will hurt someone’s feelings.”

In the declaration following measures have been recommended for promotion of religious tolerance and harmony:

The government should award death sentence to those indulging in blasphemy. No one should speak ill of those held in reverence by others. The beliefs of others should be respected. Those involved in showing disrespect to the feelings of others should be taken to task. There should be no change of routes and meeting places of Majalis and processions, no hurdles be created in the way of their programmes, carrying weapons in Majalis and processions be banned, in the use of loudspeakers timing of prayers be kept in view, playing of cassettes provoking tension and sectarian feelings be banned and publishing, distribution of all literature, pamphlets, wall chalking that are likely to provoke ill-will be banned.

Ulema of different schools of thought would put emphasis on harmony, brotherhood and peace in their speeches.

Maintenance of peace during Muharram-ul-Haram is the responsibility of the government which cannot absolve itself from its duty of maintaining law and order by accusing foreign conspiracy and terming breach of peace the act of anti-state elements.