KARACHI, Feb 27: Ulema from different schools of thought on Thursday declared Jihad against sectarianism. They also declared that murder of a Muslim and passing of edicts of kufr for another Muslim were prohibited in Islam.

These observations were made in a press release issued by ‘Nine Zero’ the headquarters of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), which claimed that the signed pledge was made during a telephonic address by the party chief, Altaf Hussain.

According to the press release, the Ulema supported the view that judicial action should be taken against those who used to issue death decrees against other Muslims.

In his address, Mr Hussain called for legislation meant to punish those who were responsible for spreading sectarianism and called upon the Ulema and religious scholars to wage a concerted struggle against such elements.

Mr Hussain deplored the killing of Khalid Bin Waleed and attack on an Imambargah where many innocent people were gunned down.

He urged the president, prime minister and legislators to initiate a debate on the religious beliefs of the Quaid-i-Azam so that people could know how and why the Indian Muslims got united under his leadership.

The MQM chief, who dealt at length against the resurging sectarian violence, called on the religious scholars to play their role in curbing the menace.

Referring to the ‘million march’, planned by the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, Mr Hussain maintained that similar rallies should be organized also to prevent and contain sectarian violence as well as terrorism to restore peace in the city.

He advised the MMA to do for Karachiites whatever it had been doing in support of the people of Iraq.