MULTAN, Feb 1: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has urged ulema from all over the world to launch joint efforts to disseminate the message of Muslim saints to counter terrorism.

Addressing the Zaireen on the opening day of the 769th Urs of Hazrat Bahauddin Zakariya here on Sunday, he said Islam did not permit slaughtering of citizens and bombing of girls’ schools, but some elements were committing these acts in the name of religion.

Those present responded with supportive slogans when the minister said: “I want to say from this platform of ulema and mashaikh that this assembly condemns terrorism, whether it occurs in India, Pakistan or Afghanistan.”

Mr Qureshi, the Sajjada Nasheen of Hazrat Bahauddin Zakariya’s mausoleum, said that during a recent meeting with his Afghan counterpart in Islamabad there was a consensus that steps to spread the Sufis’ message was missing from the anti-terrorism measures adopted by Pakistan and Afghanistan.

He said the people of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq and other Muslim countries largely believed in Sufis’ teachings which were based on disseminating knowledge and promoting brotherhood, love, tolerance and peace.

The Afghan foreign minister had promised to visit Multan during his next visit to Pakistan, the minister added.

Mr Qureshi recalled that he was in New Delhi when the Mumbai attacks had occurred and there were people who blamed both Islam and Pakistan for the killings.

He said he had then asked Indians why did they visit the mausoleum of Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia in large numbers if Islam was in any way connected to terrorism—APP