HYDERABAD: A conference of ulema and mashaikh on Wednesday announced that Ahl-i-Sunnat school of thought and its organisations had nothing to do with Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam’s so-called Azadi march and sit-in as it considered the protest to be an attempt to help release of “secular, liberal and corrupt politicians”.

A 14-point joint resolution adopted at the Istehkam-i-Pakistan moot said that Ahl-i-Sunnat sect and its organisations considered the march part of Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s agenda to damage Pakistan’s integrity and Kashmir cause.

It assured the government and armed forces that leaders of Ahl-i-Sunnat had given tremendous sacrifices for Pakistan’s creation and they would not leave any stone unturned for Kashmir cause and the country’s integrity.

The resolution condemned speeches delivered at Azadi march sit-in against armed forces and termed them an attempt to target state institutions. It demanded the government take action against the speeches and said Ahmadis should be bound to follow law and Constitution.

It said that ulema and mashaikh supported army against Indian aggression, which had endangered regional peace, and vowed to foil all conspiracies against Tahaffuz-i-Namoos-i-Risalat law.

The moot expressed concerns over reports of amendments to the laws and warned the government to desist from any attempt to render the laws ineffective.

It warned the government to refrain from interfering in seminaries’ academic system and accept 20-point charter of demands presented by Ittehad-i-Tanzeemat Madaris Deenia.

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and Arab League should play their role for peace in the countries where Muslim faced genocide, it said.

It said the government should accept recommendations of Council of Islamic Ideology for the abolition of un-Islamic laws and enforcement of Nizam-i-Mustafa and urged media to ensure responsible journalism.

Sahibzada Abul Khair Mohammad Zubair, president of Milli Yakjehti Council and Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan-Noorani, who presided over the conference said that Pakistan was passing through a critical phase. After fall of Dhaka, fall of Kashmir had taken place and Modi government had unleashed atrocities against innocent Kashmiri people, he said.

He condemned silence of human rights bodies and apathy of Islamic countries’ leadership over Kashmir issue and said that Maulana Fazlur Rehman had endangered Kashmir cause through his march and now he could not get any respectable exit as face-saving.

He said that state institutions were targeted and “anti-Pakistan” speeches were delivered in maulana’s protest.

Sunni Tehreek leader Sarwat Ejaz Qadri announced holding Shuhada conference on Jan 5 next year at Nishtar Park in Karachi and said that Maulana Fazl served as Kashmir Committee chairman and when he lost this position, he started talking about Kashmir.

The conference was also attended by Haji Gulshan Illahi, Pir Ghulam Rasool Qasmi, Mohammad Akram Saeedi, Sahibzada Jawad Ahmed Barkati, Barkat Ahmed Rizvi, Nazim Arain and others.

Published in Dawn, November 21st, 2019