SUKKUR: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has called for making Pakistan a true Islamic welfare state and introducing the Islamic system in the country.

He was addressing the 77th annual Dastar-i-Fazeelat Conference at the Jamia Mazharul Uloom, Manzilgah, on Tuesday. The conference was presided over by caretaker of Dargah Halejvi Sharif, Abdul Samad Halejvi.

The JUI-F chief said his party opposed moves to promote secularism in the country. He claimed that Pakistan was created in the name of Islam and solution of country’s all problems lied in following the guidelines provided in the Quran and Sunnah. Introduction of secular ideas in the name of moderation and progressive thoughts could not be accepted, he added.

He criticised the rulers and some politicians for what he called promoting secular ideas in the country. He accused the rulers of handing over the affairs of the country in the hands of international NGOs.

The JUI-F chief said international conspiracies were being hatched against the Islamic world and madressahs (religious seminaries). Some politicians and NGOs are trying to portray a bad picture of madressahs and they are forcing the government to take action against them. He claimed that raids had been conducted on thousands of madressahs, but not a single terrorist was found there.

Maulana Fazl held the West, particularly the United States, responsible for bloodshed in Islamic countries and said the United Nations had failed in finding solutions of international disputes which was the main cause of unrest in different parts of the world.

He stressed the need for using all resources for eliminating terrorism from the country, saying that Islam rejected terrorism. For the revival of national economy it was necessary for the country to get rid of the menace of terrorism, he added.

He criticised the women rights bill passed by the Punjab Assembly, saying that it was not in accordance with the Constitution and the Islamic teachings. He claimed that the law would damage the family system and create problems for the society. The JUI-F chief criticised PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, saying that his “childish activities” were creating problems for his own party.

Maulana Fazl condemned the Lahore carnage and called for strict action against elements behind it.

Those who also spoke on the occasion included Maulana Ikramullah, Maulana Nasir Mehmood Soomro, Maulana Abdul Qayoom Halejvi, Sain Waliullah Shah Amroti, Maulana Abdullah Abbasi, Sain Abdullah Mahar, Abdullah Pahor, Saud Afzal Halejvi, Mohammad Saleh Indhar and Agha Said Ayub Shah.

Published in Dawn, March 30th, 2016