KARACHI, Aug 17: Interior Minister Lt-Gen Moinuddin Haider (retired) has reiterated the government’s resolve to take stern and across-the-board action against elements involved in terrorist activities.

Speaking at the 23rd Imam Ahmed Raza International Conference here on Saturday, the minister dispelled the impression that the government was only targeting students and graduates of religious schools.

“Culprits are nabbed and apprehended on the basis of sound information and concrete evidence,” he maintained.

He regretted that Islam, a religion of peace, love and tolerance was being wrongly projected and misunderstood by some quarters.

Moinuddin Haider, speaking to a large number of scholars on the occasion, emphasized the need for restoring and reviving the true spirit of Islam among the youths, adding that the teachings of Imam Ahmed Raza Barelvi should also be promoted at all levels.

Reminding the audience that Ahmad Raza Barelvi was equally competent in worldly teachings and had solid contribution in the field of mathematics, physics and so forth, he said that: “this further supplements the government’s efforts to include different subjects along with religious instructions in the curriculum of religious schools scattered across the country.”

The minister said he had been constantly ensuring the ulema that not a minute change was being made in the courses related to religious injunctions offered at the madressahs.

“Our main intention is to help these children avail equal opportunities to learn different subjects and vocations, including computers education,” he added.

The minister, while negating any difference of opinion among the government and a majority of religious scholars regarding modifications in the curriculum of madressahs, said the changes were being introduced after taking all the concerned sections into confidence.

Stressing importance of worldly education for children without any distinction, the minister said it was the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) who himself set teaching of Muslims by Quraish prisoners of war as a condition for the latter’s release following one of the holy wars.

Moinuddin Haider said that love for the Holy Prophet could not be genuine unless we are able to comprehend his message in its actual sense.

“Our claims and practice are contradictory to one another,” he said, and added that “as followers of a person who expressed deep consideration for his friends and foes alike, we find people around us being killed under slightest pretext.”

“Islam does not permit violation of the rights of minorities or any particular section of society,” he said, regretting that instances which occurred in Murree and Taxila had brought a bad name to the country as well as to the religion.

In response to a question after the programme, Moinuddin Haider said: “58 prisoners of Pakistani origin are at present registered to be at the Guantanamo Base in Cuba and President Pervez Musharraf during his US visit in September will discuss the issue of their cases.”

He mentioned that negotiations were underway with the Afghan government for release of Pakistanis incarcerated at different jails of Afghanistan.

Moinuddin Haider ruled out the possibility of deploying the Army to maintain law and order in the country on the eve of October general elections, saying “I’m confident the police will be enough to control the situation.”

He said police and other law-enforcement agencies were being motivated to perform their duties more effectively.

“I’ve attended a briefing at the Central Police Office today and they satisfied me with their plans to maintain law and order situation in the city,” he added.

Urging the ulema to preach lessons of peace, tolerance and harmony among the people, he said the government was working for promoting Islam, which teaches harmony, peace and brotherhood.

Earlier, president of the Idara Tahqiqaat-i-Imam Ahmed Raza, Sahibzada Wajahat Rasool Qadri, highlighted the aims and objectives of the conference.

Punjab minister for Auqaf Mufti Ghulam Sarwar Dari, Prof # Muneebur Rehman, Allama Saadat Ali Qadri, Anwar Ahmed Zai and an Egyptian scholar, Dr Hazem Mohammad Ahmed, also spoke.—APP/PPI