LAHORE: Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) emir Sirajul Haq has said Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan should promote mutual trade and establish a joint market to strengthen their economies.

There was a need to develop a unanimous educational curriculum and a joint army of the Muslim world, Mr Haq said at the ‘Unity of Ummah’ conference at Mansoora on Thursday.

Iranian scholar and head of Iran’s Aalimi Idara Taqreeb Mazahib Islami Secretary-General Dr Hameed Sheharyari was the chief guest.

Mr Haq said the Iran-Saudi Arabia cold relations were a matter of great concern for Muslims around the world. Both countries, he said, should settle down their issues for the great benefit of Ummah. He said Pakistan should play a role to make the two important countries of the Islamic world closer to each other.

The JI chief said it was expected that foreign ministers of the Muslim world during the OIC in Islamabad would recognize the Afghan government. But, he regretted, they failed to make the announcement due to US pressure. He said it was the duty of the Muslim world to help the people of Afghanistan.

Mr Haq said sectarianism was the major issue being faced by the Muslim world. He said western powers under a conspiracy spread violence and hate among the followers of different schools of Islamic thought. Muslim scholars, he said, should play a role to promote peace and unity among different faiths.

He said the JI was striving hard to promote unity among Muslims of Pakistan and the world. But, he said, this was the duty of the governments and, particularly, Pakistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Malaysia should come forward to strengthen ties among Islamic countries.

Dr Hameed thanked the JI leadership for organising the event and inviting him to speak to the scholars. He said Iran and Pakistan were two tested brothers and would stay together in all circumstances.

Published in Dawn, December 31st, 2021