ISLAMABAD, Aug 4: Pakistan Muslim League (PML) leader and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed on Thursday said the Muslim countries should prepare a comprehensive action plan and strategy to counter the anti-Muslim propaganda through “enlightened moderation”.
In his key note address here at the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) on the “Role of CII and challenges of Muslim Ummah”, Senator Syed said in the present circumstances due to lack of unity and comprehensive strategy, the Muslims were being blamed for almost all the acts of extremism and terrorism.
Referring to the report of 9/11 Commission, Mushahid Hussain said the commission had recommended that the US should have good and strong relations with Pakistan, Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia, as these three countries were important in the Muslim Ummah and could play a key role in the security of America.
He said the vision of “enlightened moderation”, which was presented by Gen Pervez Musharraf at the OIC meeting held in Malaysia, was the way forward to counter the problems and challenges being faced by the Muslim Ummah.
Referring to the role of the OIC, he said it was an important organization of 57 Muslim countries and efforts were being made to make it a vibrant, effective and rejuvenated body to represent the true spirit of the Muslims and counter the challenges being faced by the Ummah.
A 15-member commission of eminent persons, which included five members from African countries, five from Arab and five from Asia and Pakistan, had been represented by Mr Syed.
Referring to the work of this commission, he said it had prepared its recommendations to reorganise the OIC which included change of the name of the OIC and a change in its structure so that it could represent the Ummah in an effective way.
He said a meeting of Islamic scholars would be held in Makkah in September this year to discuss and review the recommendations prepared by the Commission of Eminent Persons (CEP) and to give them a final shape, which would be followed by an extraordinary OIC summit scheduled in Makkah in December.
He expressed the hope that after implementing the recommendations prepared by the CEP, the Muslim Ummah would be able to improve its image and reputation in the world.
Senator Mushahid Hussain said due to the lack of democracy in a number of Muslim countries, the Muslim Ummah had been facing problems.
He said knowledge and education should be given due attention by Muslims to revive their past glory and traditions.
He said there was need to bridge the gap between the people and the rulers so that the Muslims could reunite their strength. Without public support, the Muslim force would not be effective, he said.
Mushahid Hussain said the Muslim countries should take their own decisions without any external pressure and interference and chalk out plans to improve their own destiny.
He stressed the need for promotion of a culture of tolerance, mutual respect, harmony and unity among the Muslims so that they could become a force to play a key role in the world affairs.
Earlier, the Council of Islamic Ideology Chairman Dr Khalid Masood presented the welcome address and highlighted the important role which the CII would have to play in the ever- changing political landscape at the world level.