A FEW months after it was reactivated at the national level, the Milli Yakjehti Council held the first major meeting of its Sindh chapter in Karachi on Wednesday. With Qazi Hussain Ahmed heading the grouping of religious parties, participants of the meeting made all the right noises, pledging to combat communal divisions and sectarian terrorism in Pakistan. It is a positive move by religious leaders, especially considering the current noxious atmosphere in the country. Qazi Sahib also clarified that the MYC is not an election alliance. The former Jamaat-i-Islami chief has long been trying to bring together different Muslim factions; the MYC is an interesting mix of Shia and Sunni parties, including representatives of various sub-groups. It was symbolic to hold the moot in Karachi, bearing in mind the city’s recent history of sectarian strife. Perhaps the council should also meet in other hot spots across Pakistan where communal violence is threatening the social fabric. The MYC also passed a resolution condemning sectarian killings in Karachi, Quetta and Gilgit-Baltistan.

But beyond condemnations, the men of the cloth need to take practical steps to help stem the seemingly unstoppable tide of hatred and bigotry that is sweeping this country. The council must address the root causes of sectarian violence: the spread of hate material and the existence of sectarian militias. The ulema must devise a code of conduct that comes down hard on preachers who use the pulpit or the media to fan the flames of hatred, especially when it comes to declaring others kafirs or non-believers. Also, the mainstream clergy needs to rein in sectarian militants; while some ulema indeed have no control over these elements, there are certain figures within the MYC whom the militants look up to. The MYC’s efficacy will only be proved if it can make progress on these two critical fronts.