ISLAMABAD, Aug 22: In a belated move, the government has decided to seek support of ulema, mashaikh and intellectuals in its campaign against terrorism and terrorist networks across the country.

For this purpose, a 45-member ulema, mashaikh and intellectuals council has been constituted in Islamabad and the provincial governments advised to form similar councils at their level.

The decision comes after the latest disclosure of a plot to blow up important government buildings, including the presidency, the GHQ, PM house, etc., and finding of a linkage of two ulema Maulana Abdul Aziz and Maulana Ghazi Abdur Rashid with the masterminds of the conspiracy.

Prominent among those included in the 'Ulema Mashaikh Council' are Mufti Muhammad Rafi Usmani of Darul Uloom Karachi, Maulana Anas Noorani, son of the late Maulana Shah Ahmed Noorani, Qari Roohullah Madni, Peshawar, Maulana Hasan Jan, Qazi Abdul Latif, Sahibzada Hamid Saeed Kazmi, Multan, Pir Ateequr Rahman, AJK, Mufti Munibur Rahman, Karachi, Pir Naqibur Rahman, Rawalpindi, Dr Khalid Raza Zakori, Pir Roohul Hussain Amin Devel Sharif etc.

Speaking at a news conference, Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Ijazul Haq said on Sunday that the law-enforcement agencies had found a documentary proof of a close contact between people plotting subversive acts and two local ulema brothers. Still the government did not intend to take any action against other seminaries.

Asked about Maulana Ghazi's offer from an unknown place that he was ready to appear before an independent commission of inquiry, the minister said: "He must surrender to the authorities first and then other details could be worked out".

He, however, advised ulema and mashaikh to take special care of such elements among their ranks and inform the authorities of their designs if they find any. He said that he had planned a three-day conference of ulema and mashaikh in September to discuss the situation.