LAHORE, July 8: Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has taken ulema of different schools of thought into confidence as a measure to prevent sectarian violence, showing government’s resolve to crack down on those spreading it in the province.

The meeting was held at the Civil Secretariat in which Law Minister Muhammad Basharat Raja and senior government officials participated.

The chief minister said the government would deal with elements spreading the seeds of dissension among different sects with an iron hand.

He appealed to the ulema to inculcate the spirit of unity among their followers and stop delivering speeches that could fan hatred.

The government would not allow mischief mongers to use religion for spreading hatred, and deal with them with an iron hand, he iterated.

He expressed his grief over carnage in Quetta, saying it was a conspiracy to create rift among people belonging to different sects.

On a demand by the ulema, he announced that the government would send a delegation comprising religious leaders of Ittehad Bainul Muslimeen Committee to Quetta to express solidarity with the families of the victims.

He directed the officials concerned to reconstitute the Muttahida Ulema Board having ulema of various schools of thought. Another direction was to activate the district peace committees to keep an eye on the mischief mongers.

The participating ulema gave various suggestions on how to promote sectarian harmony in the country. These included recording of speeches by those known for spreading sectarian hatred, discouraging the trend of grabbing mosques, swooping upon outlawed organizations and formulation of a code of conduct for public meetings and processions.

They urged all the religious parties to publicly dissociate themselves from those spreading sectarianism. The government should allow peace-loving ulema to preach fraternity through electronic media.

Meanwhile, PML-Q MPAs of Lahore and Okara called on the chief minister and discussed with him political affairs. Provincial Tourism Minister Mian Aslam Iqbal and Housing Minister Syed Raza Ali Gilani were present on the occasion. Mr Elahi said education, health, agriculture and law and order were the priorities of the government for which substantial funds had been allocated.

He said checkposts were being established and the police department was being equipped with modern weapons and other instruments to improve the law and order situation in the province.

He said agriculture was the lynchpin of the national economy, and the government had earmarked substantial amount for it.