Clerics belonging to the various Sunni schools of thought have come forward to defend the controversial Tahaffuz-e-Bunyad-e-Islam Bill, calling it a reflection of the 'love and devotion of the members' of the Punjab Assembly lawmakers toward the 'holy personalities' of Islam.
These ulemas held a meeting to formulate a strategy for the implementation of the bill that was put on hold after vociferous criticism by minority communities and the civil society. The lawmakers who had previously voted for the bill have also turned against it.
The participants included Maulana Zahidur Rashidi, Liaquat Baloch, Dr Fareed Paracha, Maulana Muhammad Ahmed Ludhianvi, Syed Kafeel Bukhari, Hafiz Abdul Gaffar Ropri, Maulana Ilyas Chinioti, Qari Zawwar Bahadur, Hafiz Ibtisam Elahi Zaheer, Hafiz Asad Ubaid and others, while the sitting was hosted by Jamiat Ulema Islam (Samiul Haq) general secretary Maulana Abdur Rauf Farooqi, said a Dawn report.
Addressing a presser after the meeting, Farooqi alleged that 'vicious' attempts have been made to make the sanctity of the holy personalities controversial and termed it an 'intolerable act'.
The meeting was of the view that all schools of thought agreed on upholding the sanctity of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and his companions, and that the 'expression of any negative impression in this regard is not only against the unanimous position of the sanctity of holy persons but also an attempt to escalate sectarian tensions'.
The sitting called for forming a joint platform to defend the bill and empowered Farooqi to convene a summit of religious parties’ heads for the purpose. It also demanded that contentious content should be scrutinized by the Muttahida Ulema Board instead of bureaucrats.
These ulemas held a meeting to formulate a strategy for the implementation of the bill that was put on hold after vociferous criticism by minority communities and the civil society. The lawmakers who had previously voted for the bill have also turned against it.
The participants included Maulana Zahidur Rashidi, Liaquat Baloch, Dr Fareed Paracha, Maulana Muhammad Ahmed Ludhianvi, Syed Kafeel Bukhari, Hafiz Abdul Gaffar Ropri, Maulana Ilyas Chinioti, Qari Zawwar Bahadur, Hafiz Ibtisam Elahi Zaheer, Hafiz Asad Ubaid and others, while the sitting was hosted by Jamiat Ulema Islam (Samiul Haq) general secretary Maulana Abdur Rauf Farooqi, said a Dawn report.
Addressing a presser after the meeting, Farooqi alleged that 'vicious' attempts have been made to make the sanctity of the holy personalities controversial and termed it an 'intolerable act'.
The meeting was of the view that all schools of thought agreed on upholding the sanctity of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and his companions, and that the 'expression of any negative impression in this regard is not only against the unanimous position of the sanctity of holy persons but also an attempt to escalate sectarian tensions'.
The sitting called for forming a joint platform to defend the bill and empowered Farooqi to convene a summit of religious parties’ heads for the purpose. It also demanded that contentious content should be scrutinized by the Muttahida Ulema Board instead of bureaucrats.