ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) on Wednesday launched its code of conduct for Haj and has urged pilgrims to stay away from political gatherings and protests during their visit to Saudi Arabia.

“I am not taking any side and I am not opposing any ideology or thought, but it is in the best interests of the country and Haj pilgrims to refrain from being close to trouble spots,” said PUC chairman Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi while addressing a conference at the Jamia Masjid Mahaz bin Jabal.

He said political gatherings and raising political slogans during Haj is against the Sharia and that all pilgrims should cooperate with Saudi security personnel during their stay.

“Any political activity in the Harmain Sharifain can provide terrorists with a chance to exploit the situation for their nefarious designs,” he said, adding that all pilgrims are ambassadors of Pakistan in Saudi Arabia.

Mr Ashrafi said the code of conduct was launched to guide citizens on how to behave and on general matters during Haj including how to use public toilets.

The PUC chief said the Qatar-Arab rift should be settled through peaceful talks and that the leadership of Qatar should implement all the agreements it has signed with Saudi Arabia.

He criticized the Pakistani leadership for not playing a role in negotiating a settlement between two Muslim countries and that the participation of Turkish and Saudi jets on Independence Day was a sign of cordial relations between Pakistan and other Muslim countries.

He also criticized former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for his controversial statements against the judiciary and suggested the PML-N leadership should apply for a review petition on the Panama case verdict instead.

“Endeavors by the ruling elite to amend the Constitution and remove the Islamic sections of 62 and 63 is concerning and the religious leadership will not allow this to happen,” he said.

He announced that the PUC will be holding a gathering of leading religious and political organizations in the country over this issue in Lahore next week.

Published in Dawn, August 17th, 2017