KARACHI: Stronger Ummah to face enemies’ challenge stressed
KARACHI, Sept 15: Speakers at a seminar here on Friday discussed growing Zionist aggression and stressed the need for Ummah to become active militarily and technologically to counter the challenge.
The seminar, organised by the Hamdard Foundation Pakistan, was presided over by
Deputy Speaker Shura Hamdard Qutubuddin Aziz. President of the Shura Sadia Rashid was also present.
Speaking on the occasion, Mehdi Masud, a former ambassador, said the recent devastation in Lebanon, both in terms of casualties and devastation showed that history was repeating itself. He observed that the Zionist forces were out again to cripple the Arab resistance while the West continued its policy of controlling the oil rich and strategically important Middle East.
He said the situation was leading the region to an explosive future which would have serious implications on world peace and economic stability. Unless the world community and the UN forum asserted themselves more forcefully in this unipolar world, the situation would not start getting better.
The quartet comprising the UN, US, EU and Russia must follow through seriously on the road map for an early settlement of the Palestine question, he said, adding that the Arab-Islamic World should use its strategic and economic leverage for pressure the US to come out with an even-handed policy to avoid a real conflict of civilisations. He said that the threat of this conflict must be countered bringing an end to the exploitation by West of the war against terror for fulfilling their neo-colonist design of hegemony over the crucial states of Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran and others in the Arab-Islamic states.
Economist Mohammad Ahmed Sabzwari said that out of 58 Muslim countries, only 20 or so had participated in recent OIC meeting on Lebanon. In such as situation, how could the Islamic World take a united stand and formulate a joint strategy against Israel? he wondered.
A former chairman of Pakistan Steel Mills, Haq Nawaz Akhtar, described the latest Israeli attacks on Lebanon as a part of the ongoing clash of civilizations, and quoted Henry Kinssinger as saying: “The West wants to divide Muslims in religious and lingual sects while differences in Muslims are only political and not religious.”
He said we would have to undo this divide, and pointed out that there was a gap between masses and rulers in Islamic states vis-à-vis approach. “Rulers are with the USA but masses are not.”
Syed Mustafa Ali Brelvi said that whatever happening in the Islamic World appeared to be a pre-planned design by the lone super power. He said President Musharraf had taken the right decision after the 9/11 event but Pakistan should now change its internal and external policies and avoid being called a state obedient to the US.
Sarshar Siddiqui was of the view that the conflict between the West and Islamic Would was not a crusade for any of them. “It’s a war of interests,” he believed, indicating that the US was not against Islam but it aim was gain control of the Islamic World’s natural resources and other assets.
Prof Afaq Siddiqui said that Muslim intellectuals should come forward to undo all divides and reunite Muslims around the world besides helping the Umma equip itself with the most modern technologies and military hardware.
Mohammad Saeed Siddiqui was of the view that unless the rich Muslims came forward to help educate Muslims by setting up and promoting educational institutions, especially those imparting education and training in science and technology, the Islamic World would not be able to face the challenges ahead.
Dr Naeem Qureshi and Ms Akhtar Begana also spoke at the seminar.
Later, through a resolution, the Shura expressed its condolences over the demise of former foreign minister Agha Shahi and wife of Mehdi Masud. It also prayed for the early recovery of renowned Pakistani scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan.—PPI
