LAHORE, May 18: Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi ordered on Wednesday fresh investigation for the recovery of the slippers of the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him), which were stolen from the Badshahi Mosque over three years ago.
He directed that all law-enforcement agencies concerned should jointly look into the matter so that the holy slippers could be recovered at the earliest. He also sought a report in this regard.
He was talking to a delegation of ulema, which called on him under the leadership of Mufti-i-Azam Pakistan Mufti Rafi Usmani. He assured them that the matter would not be put into the cold storage.
The delegation comprised Ruet-i-Hilal Committee chairman Prof Mufti Muneebur Rehman, Jamiatul Muntazar mohtamim-i-aala Syed Niaz Husain Naqvi, Jamia Naeemia mohtamim Dr Sarfraz Naeemi, Wafaqul Madaris secretary Mian Naeemur Rehman Tahir, Raabitaul Madaris Islamia (Mansoora) Sadar Maulana Abdul Malik, Punjab Quran Board chairman Allama Hanif Jallundhry, Nusrat Ali Shahani of Jamiatul Muntazar and Syed Kazim Raza Naqvi.
The chief minister said the recently-established Seerat Academy and the Quran Complex would help promote teachings and the real spirit of Islam, and provide better research facilities to scholars.
He said the Punjab Quran Board had been established for quality printing of the Holy Quran, better arrangements for collection of old manuscripts and copies of the Holy Quran as well as effective implementation of all sections of the Quran Act of 1973.
The chief minister said due representation had been given to followers of all schools of thought on the board. The government, he said, would discharge all its responsibilities regarding quality printing of the Holy Quran after recycling its worn-out copies.
He appreciated consensus among ulema on recycling as well as other important issues, and urged them to play their due role for the promotion of human values, peace and national integrity.
The CM said religious leaders should also encourage people to seek knowledge, as no society could progress without education. He said the elements fanning sectarianism were condemnable and should be discouraged at every level. He said the establishment of the Seerat Academy would go a long way in highlighting various aspects of the life of the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) and promoting religious education among the youth.
He said a Quran museum would be set up for preserving and displaying old and rare manuscripts of the holy book, which would be collected from all over the province.
Translations of the glorious Quran in different languages and its interpretations would be kept in the Quran Library. A Quran Academy, research centre, library and a mosque would also be constructed in the complex, he added. .