QUETTA, July 11: A conference held here on Thursday night condemned what it called a Western propaganda campaign against madressahs.

The conference, organised by the Movement for Enforcement of Sharia (MES), called for release of Lal Masjid Imam Maulana Abdul Aziz and nuclear scientist Dr A. Q. Khan.

The conference was presided over by MES chief Maulana Noor Mohammad.

Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind chief Maulana Rashad said the basic objective of seminaries was to take the religion of Allah to the people.

He said that because of the seminaries people had changed their lifestyle in accordance with the Islamic injunctions.

He said that the campaign had been launched against seminaries because elements maligning them were ignorant of Islam’s message.

Most of the speakers criticised the United States for interfering in the affairs of Islamic countries to control their resources.

They praised Taliban leader Mullah Umar and Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden for their jihad.

Resolutions adopted at the conference demanded enforcement of Sharia in the country, recognition of provinces’ right on their resources, ending military actions in Balochistan and tribal areas, release of Taliban and Al Qaeda members and maximum autonomy for provinces.

The conference condemned the killing of settlers and security forces in Quetta.