KHAR: The Jamaat-i-Islami leaders on Monday condemned the ‘malicious propaganda’ against seminaries and insisted religious schools or institutions were not involved in terrorism and religious extremism in any way.

JI provincial deputy chief Dr Iqbal Khalil told a convention of the party’s workers here that the current malicious propaganda against seminaries was part of an international campaign against Islam and its institutions.

“We condemn the attempts to bracket terrorism with Islam, madrassas and its other institutions. They’re part of the agenda of secular elements to malign Islam,” he said.

The JI leader said linking seminaries to terrorism was unfair as Islam preached love and brotherhood and that seminarians had never been involved in terrorism.

“Not only the students of madrassas are loyal to Pakistan but they are even ready to lay down life for the country,” he said.

Insists religious schools not involved in terrorism, extremism

Dr Iqbal said religious institutions had always played a vital role for the promotion of harmony and tolerance among the people and opposed terrorism and extremism.

He said a malicious propaganda had been unleashed against seminaries and religious institutions on the pressure of the west, which was opposed to promotion of religious education in the country. The JI leader asked the government to immediately check the anti-seminary campaign.

He said his party would offer strong resistance if the government banned or tried to ban seminaries and religious institutions in any part of the country.

“We assure the government that seminaries have nothing to do with terrorism and extremism. However, at the same time, we want to tell them in clear words that we will not allow any action against them or mosques in the name of anti-terrorism operation,” he said.

Other JI leaders, including Bajaur chief of the party Qari Abdul Majeed and general secretary Sardar Khan, said their party would continue striving for the enforcement of Islamic system in the country by ballot and not by bullet.

They said JI had sped up its efforts to bring about a positive change in the life of the Fata people.

The JI leaders said the complete abolition of the Frontier Crimes Regulation and provision of constitutional rights to the tribesmen was the need of the hour.

They said absence of constitutional rights and a lack of proper justice system had made the Fata people’s life very miserable.

The JI leaders said the misuse of FCR and absence of constitutional rights in Fata were the major causes of the backwardness and deprivation of the local residents.

JI workers, religious leaders and seminary students and teachers attended the event in large numbers.

MEDICAL CAMPS: The livestock department of Bajaur Agency on Monday launched a programme to hold free medical camps for the sick cattle in different areas of the agency.

The first such camp was held in Shenkai Alizai area, where veterinarians examined over 500 animals, which were in poor health, and gave free medicines for them.

Senior official of the livestock department Dr Ahmad Younas said the programme had been launched on the directives of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Khan to provide free treatment and medicines to the ailing cattle in remote areas of the agency.

Published in Dawn, January 6th, 2015

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