QUETTA: Religious and political leaders, scholars and intellectuals said the formation of an Islamic government in Afghanistan after Iran is likely to strengthen Islamic movements around the world.

Speaking at an academic conference held at Khana-i-Farhang Iran, Quetta, on Wednesday, they urged Islamic countries to shun their differences and become united to thwart conspiracies hatched by anti-Islamic elements.

Consul General of Iran Hassan Darwish Vand, Director General Khana-i-Farhang, Quetta, Syed Taqi Zada Waqfi, Allama Hashim Mousavi, provincial patron of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islami Hafiz Hussain Ahmed, Abdul Qayyum Bedar, Allama Maqsood Domki, Mufti Saeed Kakar and Syed Naqibullah spoke at length on the occasion on the unity of the Muslim ummah.

Dr Hamid Shehryar, the secretary general of the Interfaith Islamic Organisation of Iran, and Maulana Nazir Ahmad Salami, a member of the Iranian Assembly of Experts, while speaking through a video link urged the scholars to join hands to fight against ignorance and poverty and promote literacy.

Formation of Taliban govt seen as furthering the cause

They suggested that Islamic countries should form a joint parliaments in the style of the European Union. “The unity of the Muslim ummah is more important than ever. Israel occupies the first Qibla of Muslims because of the differences among Muslim countries,” they said.

They also stressed that efforts should be made to rehabilitate and improve the Quetta-Zahedan railway track and widen the land route for a safer journey, they said.

Other leaders who spoke at the conference said Iran had had an Islamic government led by scholars for 43 years. Now the formation of an Islamic emirate in Afghanistan will strengthen Islamic movements around the world. They also believed that the Taliban thwarted the enemy’s conspiracies by protecting Muharram gatherings in Afghanistan.

Scholars and religious parties of Balochistan were on the same page for the unity of the ummah and were ready to eliminate their differences, they said.

Published in Dawn, December 30th, 2021