QUETTA: Need for banning sectarian parties stressed
By Our Staff Correspondent
QUETTA, April 4: Speakers at a one-day seminar on Sunday called for banning all sectarian parties and groups and urged the government to take strict action against the so-called ulema, asking people to kill each other.
The seminar held on the issue of restoration of peace in Quetta was organized by the Centre for Peace and Development. Balochistan Minister for Local Bodies Hafiz Hussain Ahmed Shoradi presided over the seminar.
Participants of the seminar condemned the Ashura killings, saying it was a conspiracy to pit the people against each other. Stressing the need for imposing a ban on the use of loudspeakers, they said that the government should pay compensation to heirs of the victims of the Quetta massacre.
Hafiz Hussain Ahmed Shoradi said that Islam did not allow any person or group to issue edicts to kill people belonging to others sects. "Only muftis are authorized to issue fatwas," the minister said, adding that so-called ulema were using the right to pit brother against brother in a bid to weaken Islam.
Stressing the need to respect the viewpoints of all sects, he blamed the government agencies for patronizing these so-called ulema, who he added, were involved in activities which were not in consonance with Islamic teachings.
He called upon the people to make joint efforts for removing misunderstandings, saying it was needed for the restoration of peace. He urged the ulema to eliminate the politics of sectarian hatred.
Media advisor to the chief minister Raziq Bugti said that restoring peace in Quetta was the responsibility of all segments of the society, adding that the government was making all out efforts for maintaining peace and a jirga had also been constituted in this regard.
He said that political parties should create a culture of tolerance, adding it would supplement the government's efforts to restore peace in the city. Balochistan president of the Pukhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party Abdul Rauf Khan blamed the rulers for the destruction of the society, saying denial of rights created a sense of deprivation among the people.
He said accused the covert agencies of creating what he termed fake political parties and leaders, saying they did that just to destroy the real parties and their leadership.
He also accused the covert agencies of creating and supporting jihadi groups to interfere in the affairs of neighbouring countries, saying that the same jihadi groups were now creating problems for the government and the people through their terrorist activities.
Blaming the rulers for spreading sectarianism to block real political movements, he said rulers bifurcated the people to impede them from standing up for their rights. Leader of the Pakistan People's Party and member of the Balochistan Assembly Shafiq Ahmed Khan said that the government agencies were busy keeping tabs on political parties and their leadership instead of fulfilling their real duties.
He said that the real representatives of the city were not inducted in the Jirga constituted by the Chief Minister Jam Yousuf the other day. MPA Dr Shama Ishaq said that a government which was incapable of protecting the people's life and property had no right to remain in the power. She said that the present government should tender its resignation and accept its responsibility for the Quetta killings.
President of the Hazara Democratic Party Ibrahim Hazara condemned the Quetta killings and called for the immediate arrest of the terrorists involved in the incident.
Dr Ishaq Baloch of the National Party said that political parties had never used slogans of hatred and sectarianism, adding these slogans could, however, be seen on the walls of Madressahs and other religious institutions.
He urged the government to take action against all such institutions which were involved in spreading sectarianism. Haji Allah Dad Tareen, Suleman Kakar, Rahat Malik and Ayub Tareen also spoke on the occasion.
