05 June 2004	Saturday	16 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

KARACHI, June 4: The Ulema Council, comprising scholars of Deoband school of thought, on Friday demanded of the government to fulfil its responsibilities pertaining to law and order situation through out the country.

A statement issued by the council after Friday's strike said that the council leaders would continue to protest till the arrest of murderers of Mufti Nizamuddin Shamzai.

The body thanked the people for observing, what it called 'a complete nation wide strike' to condemn Mufti Shamzai's Killing on May 30. The people voluntarily kept their businesses and offices closed to expressed solidarity with Ulema, while the strike remained peaceful and no incident of violence or damage to public property was reported, the council claimed.

The council said that the government should arrest the killers of Mufti Shamzai and give them exemplary punishment. It also urged the government to withdraw its decision to review the blasphemy laws and the Hudood Ordinance, in order to win the trust of people.

Paying homage to Mufti Shamzai at different meetings held in different parts of the country, leaders including Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Qazi Hussain Ahmad, Maulana Samiul Haq, Allama Sajid Naqvi, Dr Abdur Razzaq Sikandar, Hafiz Riaz Durrani, Maulana Nazir Farooqui, Maulana Bashir Ahmad and others said that the killers of Mufti Shamzai were the worst enemies of Islam and the Muslims, a press release by the council said.

Ulema termed Shamzai's death a greater loss than that of Sheikh Yasin and said that the void created due to his death could hardly be filled. The Ummah had been deprived of an enlightened religious person and a man of vision, the leaders noted.

In the meantime, during Friday prayer congregations, Ulema passed resolution condemning the act of terrorism, demanding the arrest of killers.

AALMI MAJLIS IHRAR: The leaders of Majlis Ihrar-i-Islam, Maulana Ihteshamul Haq and Maulana Abdul Ghafoor, while speaking at Juma gatherings, condemned the killings of religious figures and blasts at different mosques.