October 22, 2006	Sunday	Ramazan 28, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 21: Speakers at a seminar here on Saturday said Pakistan was created with the joint efforts of Ulema, Sufis and politicians under the leadership of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah and it was need of the hour that Sufism was promoted to protect it from internal as well as external dangers.

Some of them spoke in support of spreading the President Musharraf’s vision of ‘Enlightened Moderation’ and interfaith harmony by bringing all Sufi schools of thought in the mainstream.

The seminar was organised by the Pakistan Muslim League (PML) to commemorate the 61st anniversary of Pakistan in accordance with Hijri calendar, as it was 27th of Ramazan when Pakistan was founded on August 14, 1947.

Presided over by prominent spiritual leader Pir Naqeebur Rahman, the seminar was addressed among others by PML secretary- general Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Federal Minister for Inter- provincial Coordination Salim Saifullah Khan, senators Niaz A. Memon, Tahira Latif, Dilawar Abbas, former deputy chairman Afzal Agha, Pir Saadat Shah and Shahbaz Ghosi.

Majority of the participants wearing typical white and black caps were disciples of various local ‘Khankahs’ who chanted slogans in support of their respective Pirs.

One speaker claimed that Mashaikh in Pakistan were so popular that if they were given three months by the PML for expansion of its members list, they will attract hundreds of thousands of members from other political parties, including PPP and PML-N.

Salim Saifullah Khan, in his speech, regretted that half of Pakistan founded under the leadership of Quaid-i-Azam was lost due to leadership follies, adding that we had failed to get Kashmir without the guidance of sincere leaders like Quaid.

He stressed the need for national unity by invoking spirit of nationalism among the youth through spiritual education by Sufis and saints.

Mr Khan said following a Sufi or saint did not amount to ‘Shirk’ as was generally perceived and it was only to gain spiritual guidance from more pious people. He opposed extremist religious people who saw whole Islam in beard and said many people without beard were more pious and truthful then those with beards.