LAHORE: Legal and education systems of the country must be reformed to shun the colonial legacy and religious scholars should stand united to lead the masses for achieving the objectives of creation of Pakistan, says Jamaat-i-Islami Emir Senator Sirajul Haq.

Presiding over the 5th national conference of the heads of shrines and mashaikh (religious figures) at the JI headquarters at Mansoora on Monday, he said the prevailing system served the cause of the capitalists, feudal lords and elites ruling the country for decades.

“There is a dire need to bring reforms in legal, educational, financial and other sectors on the basis of principles of Islam,” he said, requesting the heads of the shrines to play their role in achieving the objective.

He said it was high time that the custodians of shrines lead the movement to empower the masses and resolve the country’s problems. He told the gathering that they were the “real power” of the country and capable of bringing “true change”.

He said the problem was the ruling elite that only served the international powers and paid no heed to the problems of the poor.

This was ridiculous, he said, that the so-called mainstream parties failed to resolve even a single issue of Karachi despite ruling the port city for decades. Millions of people were left to spend a miserable life in dirty, dusty and shabby environment where they neither had electricity, nor water to drink, he regretted.

The JI chief said only Pakistan was capable of resolving the problems facing the Ummah. But, he regretted, the ruler were muted and the Palestine and Kashmir were burning.

JI Secretary General Ameerul Azim and Khawaja Mahboob Koreja also spoke.

A resolution passed on the occasion called for unity among the Muslims of all schools of thought on the finality of prophethood and holding respect and dignity for the family and companions of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

It warned the government that any attempt to repeal or amend the blasphemy laws would be resisted. It expressed concern over the activities of Ahmadis and secular lobbies which, it said, were active to damage the Islamic identity of Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, August 25th, 2020