ISLAMABAD: Members of a sect on Saturday said they will not fall into any trap to create a law and order situation but cautioned the government to handle the situation swiftly and strictly to ensure peace in the country.

Addressing a press conference, Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM) Secretary General Allama Raja Nasir Abbas said the current situation showed that some elements were trying to push the country back to the 1980s and 1990s.

He said: “The way banned groups are behaving, if there is any single incident during Chehlum, the situation will be difficult for the government to handle.”

He said all leading scholars had advised against falling in the trap of people who were provoking hatred.

“Pakistan was built by Shias and Sunnis together, we must unite and protect the country,” he said.

He requested the religo-political parties to play their part and not follow the path of extremists.

“Ulema and political leaders should lead people and not the other way round. This is my request to the JUI-F, PPP and PML-N. At the same time, religious elements too have to learn how to maintain coherence in the society,” he said.

Meanwhile, in recent days senior clerics belonging to the Deobandi, Barelvi and Shia schools of thought have held meetings to maintain cordial relations among all communities.

Published in Dawn, September 20th, 2020