QUETTA: Council of Islamic Ideology Chairman Maulana Mohammad Khan Sherani has said that the US and Europe were behind the Panama leaks through which they wanted to destabilise Pakistan and derail democracy in order to implement their nefarious designs in the country.

Addressing a public meeting in Sanjawi area of Ziarat on Sunday, he reiterated that madressahs were not involved in terrorism and militancy.

“Western forces have launched a propaganda drive against seminaries in Pakistan to defame them.”

Maulana Sherani, who is also a senior leader of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl, said that seminaries were providing free of cost education to thousands of poor students.

Leader of Opposition in the Balochistan Assembly, Maulana Abdul Wasey, alleged that some NGOs were involved in “anti-peace activities”.

He said that seminaries had never supported militancy and demanded a halt to (police) raids on them.

Maulana Anwarul Haq Haqqani, Maulana Hafiz Mohammad Yousuf and Maulana Sher Jan also spoke on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2016