ISLAMABAD, June 27: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Monday urged ulema to play proactive role in helping the government in its fight against sectarianism and in promoting national harmony and tolerance in the society. Talking to ulema belonging to different schools of thought at the Prime Minister’s House, he said being an important segment of the society the ulema should play an effective role in promoting peace, tolerance and brotherhood among people.

The prime minister said ulema should also help the government in projecting the true image of Islam and countering the negative propaganda.

Referring to the vision of ‘enlightened moderation’ given by president, the Prime Minister said ulema should also come forward in projecting this vision so that the image of Islam as a peaceful religion could be projected in the world.

He said the government striving for progress and prosperity of the nation keeping in line with the Islamic values and in accordance with the golden principles of Islam.

He said being an Islamic country it was the responsibility of Pakistan to project real and peaceful image of Islam in the world and help other Muslim countries to counter anti-Islamic propaganda.

The prime minister said propaganda against Islam had increased after the event of 9/11. Therefore, it was the need of the hour that all religious forces, particularly the ulema, should raise voice to counter anti-Islamic forces.

Mr Aziz said Islam was a religion of peace and urged the ulema to project it with logic and historical background.

Emphasizing the need for inter-faith harmony, the prime minister said it could also promote brotherhood and tolerance in the society.

The prime minister said during his visits abroad he and President Pervez Musharraf always made sincere efforts in projecting real image of Islam as a peaceful religion.

Referring to various incidents of sectarianism and terrorism in the country, the prime minister said there was a need to fight against those elements who were involved in such cases.

He urged the ulema belonging to different school of thought to make sincere efforts to stop the activities of sectarian elements.

He said there could be difference of opinion but killing in the name of difference is against the basic principles of Islam.

Mr Aziz said the world community should also give due attention to resolving the root causes of conflicts like Palestine and Kashmir so that peace could be ensured in the world.

Referring to incidents of sectarianism in the country, the prime minister said such happenings were also disturbing foreign investment.

About the role of the Organization of Islamic Conference, the prime minister said the OIC was being reinvigorated to work effectively to improve the image of Islam and Muslims in the world.

The prime minister said once the Muslim scholars and researchers were known through out the world, but now unfortunately terrorism had damaged the image of Islam.

Mr Aziz said besides many other things, combating terrorism and sectarianism was on top of the agenda of the government.

He said with internal peace and religious harmony Pakistan could play a more active role in the world.

Ulema, scholars and khateebs of leading mosques of the country, suggested that there should be better coordination among ulema belonging to different schools of thought through setting up an office of “Ittehad Bainul Musalmeen” at Islamabad for this purpose.

They also supported the vision of enlighten moderation and said it was the best way to counter the propaganda against Islam.—APP