ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) has released a code of conduct to maintain peace during Muharram. Members of the council also said that clerics calling for death sentences for people is against the norms of Sharia.

The code was issued by PUC Chairman Hafiz Mohammad Tahir Ashrafi and was finalised after consultations with scholars from various schools of thought. It calls for joint religious congregations to be held in order to demonstrate solidarity between all religious sects, and for coordination between the local administration and organisers of religious gatherings and processions during Muharram.

The code says no Islamic sect should declare a Muslim an infidel and that non-Muslims should not be declared “worthy of killing”. It says the people of Pakistan should live as per the Constitution of the country.

The code calls on all religious organisations and sects to ensure the code of conduct is implemented and that their followers cooperate with law enforcement agencies.

It condemns terrorism, sectarian violence and extremism and calls on religious leaders of all sects to disassociate themselves from such elements.

It says no scholar, orator or cleric will make sacrilegious remarks in their public sermons about the prophets, the family and wives of Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the caliphs and imams, including Imam Mehdi, and that no religious sect will support or endorse a blasphemer.

There will be a ban on the use of loudspeakers except for the Azaan and Friday sermons though people from all religions and religious sects can use loudspeakers for religious congregations with permission from the local administration.

The code of conduct calls for a ban on hurtful and outrageous slogans and sacrilegious remarks about imams, mujtahids and Islamic jurisprudents.

It says the government is responsible for the protection of Pakistani minorities and their properties and places of worship.

The code of conduct demands that the government should ensure the implementation of the National Action Plan without discrimination.

Hafiz Ashrafi said subcommittees will be constituted under the National Reconciliatory Council at the district and tehsil levels across the country for the implementation of the code of conduct.

Published in Dawn, September 14th, 2017