LAHORE, Oct 9: As many as 22 ulema belonging to different schools of thought met Governor Muhammad Safdar at the Governor’s House on Tuesday and assured him their cooperation in maintaining peace and harmony.

They supported President Pervez Musharraf, and assured that they would play their role in foiling the designs of those trying to distort the image of Pakistan and Islam through rallies and processions, says a handout.

The governor said the government’s first priority was security and integrity of the country and its interests which required internal unity. He said ulema held an elevated position in society and they must, therefore, play their role in unifying the nation. There would be no threat to the solidarity of the country if ulema supported the government, he said.

He said those trying to put the national interests at stake could not be well-wishers of Islam and Pakistan. So far the government had been showing restraint, but the supremacy of law would be assured at any cost, sternly dealing with those threatening the life and property of peace-loving people and disrupting administrative affairs.

The delegation included Maulana Mufti Ghulam Sarwar Qadri, Allama Maqsood Qadri, Maulana Muhammad Husain Akbar, Pir Asif Gilani, Allama Rai Zafar Ali, Allama Masood Alvi and Prof Ataur Rehman.

Punjab Home Secretary Brig Ejaz Shah (retired), Auqaf secretary Shafiq Husain Bukhari and information secretary Taimur Azmat Usman were also present at the meeting.