ISLAMABAD, Jan 13: Speakers at the concluding session of the 29th Annual Hussainia Conference on Sunday urged the West not to label Muslims as terrorists and stressed that Islam is a religion that preached peace and tolerance.

A large number of prominent Ulema and Mashaikh from various schools of thought participated in the two-day conference, which was held under the auspices of the Markazi Imam Hussain Council, and eulogised the personality traits of Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS).

AJK Prime Minister Sardar Atiq Ahmad Khan, while chairing the session at Kashmir House, said the entire life of Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) was exemplary for all Muslims, but the time that he spent in Karbala was a beacon of light for all.

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Nisar A. Memon urged Ulema and Mashaikh to assist the caretaker set-up in rooting out the menaces of extremism and terrorism. He also called for religious and sectarian harmony for the stability of the country.

Mr Memon said some misguided and anti-Pakistan elements were engaged in acts of terrorism and they had nothing to do with Pakistan and Islam. The war against terrorists will continue and Ulema’s guidance will be pivotal to root out the menace, he added.

Minister for Religious Affairs, Zakat and Ushr Khawaja Attaullah Khan said it was the sacred duty of every Muslim to work for restoration of peace and harmony in the society.

According to Islam, murder of an innocent individual tantamount to the murder of an entire humanity, he said.

Awami Tehrik Senior Vice-President Agha Murtaza Pooya remarked that the West was going through Islamophobia and claimed that it was trying to eliminate the Muslim Ummah. However, by forging unity among our ranks we can face this situation in a better way, he said.

Sajjada Nasheen Golra Sharif Pir Naseeruddin Naseer pointed out that the mission and message of the grandson of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) was and is and will continue to be for all times to come to be prepared to make supreme sacrifice in the way of Almighty Allah and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

He recited passionately few of his Persian verses in which Imam Hussain (AS) was described as the symbol of resistance and revolution.

We should spread the message of love and peace and must learn to live with unity, peace, and justice, said Sajjada Nasheen Dargah Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar Dr.Syed Mehdi Raza Shah.

Sajjada Nasheen Dargah Manki Sharif Pir Syed Roohul Amin said that “Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and Aal-e-Muhammad (AS) are respectable not only for all schools of thought rather for the whole humanity.”

Sajjada Nasheen Darbar-i-Aalia Eidgah Sharif Pir Faqir Mohammad Naqeebur Rehman said: “Islam is a religion of peace, harmony and brotherhood.” He urged Ulema belonging to various schools of thought to project this message in its true spirit.

The conference was also addressed by Air Marshal (retired) Qaiser Hussain, Dr Aliya Imam, Sajjada Nashin Hazrat Bari Imam Makhdoom Syed Nazakat Hussain Shah, Sajjada Nasheen Hazrat Uch Sharif Makhdoom Hamid, Pir Sufi Atta Muhammad Qadri, Allama Ali Ghazanfar Kararwi, Allama Jawad Jaffery, Mukhtar Hussain Talpur and Allama Sibtain Shirazi.—Our Reporter