January 30, 2006	Monday	Zilhaj 29, 1426

KARACHI, Jan 29: The Chief of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Altaf Hussain, on Sunday directed the party’s legislators to prepare a draft bill on sectarian hatred.

Speaking at a meeting of ulema belonging to various schools of thought organised by the MQM at the Lal Qila Ground in Azizabad, he said: “Calling Muslims belonging to different sects as “kafir” is not acceptable because the accusers are doing nothing but encroaching upon the area, which is solely the domain of Allah.”

He asked MQM Senator Allama Abbas Kumaili to get all party legislators along to draft a bill that introduces punitive measures against the one guilty of false accusations.

Referring to the sectarian strife in Gilgit, he regretted that people belonging to different sects were killing each other there.

He warned that the situation could worsen if the government did not take some effective measures soon.

“Prisoners belonging to all sects in Gilgit should be released before the advent of Muharram so they can take part in rituals during the holy month,” he said.

He criticised religious scholars belonging to various sects of confining Islam to self-devised limitations instead of exploring flexibilities within.

“There are some religious scholars who are spoiling our innocent people by resorting to policies that could only spread hatred.”

Mr Hussain said he had directed MQM leaders and legislators to make all-out efforts to evolve unity and harmony among people belonging to various sects.

“It is our foremost endeavour to evolve harmony among people irrespective of their beliefs, caste and creed. We respect all scholars. We respect all religions and sects.”

He said he had directed City Nazim Mustafa Kamal and town nazims to contact religious scholars and make it sure that Muharram passed peacefully.

“The government has allocated Rs230 million only to control law and order during Muharram. We want to see peace and tranquillity in our city and province during the holy month,” said Mr Hussain.

He said the MQM was still in Kashmir and NWFP helping the quake-hit people and asked religious scholars to extend help to the party. “If a religious scholar is inactive then his teachings are useless and ineffective,” he emphasized.