Platform Launched To Promote Ummah Unity, Islamic Solidarity

Islamabad, May 22, IRNA -- Religious leaders from all schools of thought on Monday launched a front to promote sectarian harmony and resolve disputes. The National Solidarity Commission was launched at a conference in Islamabad organized by Jamaat-e-Islami. Nearly 40 leaders and representatives of religious parties and groups participated in the conference, titled Ummah Unity and Islamic Solidarity. It was also decided that a committee under the chairmanship of Qazi Hussain Ahmed, former chief of the Jamaat-e-Islami will be constituted for the establishment of National Solidarity Commission. The conference adopted a 17 point joint statement. The statement preempted the impression that the front is a rival of the Defense of Pakistan Council, and grand religious alliance Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal. “All schools of thoughts are unanimous of the view that terrorism in the name of religion is prohibited in Islam and we condemn it,” said the joint statement. “Declaring members of any Muslim sect as non-Muslims and justifying their killings is un-Islamic,” it said. It further said that any amendment in the Blasphemy law is unacceptable. It said that to hurt the religious sentiments of any other sect should be avoided. The statement said that publications of provocative material should be banned and the leaders of all schools of thoughts should be given equal respect. It also added that differences among religious sects should be solved by mutual understanding and conformity would be created in Friday sermons. Qazi Hussain Ahmed, former chief of the Jamaat-e-Islami on the occasion said that National Solidarity Commssion will not be a political grouping or an electoral alliance. “It’s going to be an ideological platform which will work for safeguarding national interests and guide the nation in religious matters,” Ahmed said. Ahmed said that the front would try to settle sectarian differences and bring different schools of thought close to each other. Ahmed said that in face of an onslaught from secular forces and a Western cultural invasion, it is necessary to protect the Islamic ideology of Pakistan. And for this purpose, it’s necessary to harmonize the voices coming from the country’s mosques. He said the front will have a ‘reconciliation commission’ which will take immediate steps to resolve internal disputes. He said an ‘education commission’ will also be formed which will conduct researches with different schools of thought in order to bring them closer to each other. Munawar Hasan chief of Jamaat-e-Islami expressing his views said that conspiracies against Islam will be failed. He stressed the need for unity among Ummah to counter anti-Islam conspiracies. Allama Sajid Ali Naqvi, Chief of Tahreek Nizhat-e-Jaferia said that unity is the only solution to the problems of Muslims. He asked for the revival of grand religious alliance Muthidda Majlis-i-Amal (MMA). Ameen Shaheedi, Deputy Secretary General (MWM) on the occasion said that Islam is spreading all over the world. He said that enemies of Islam are trying to create misunderstanding among Muslims. He stressed the need for a collective struggle to confront anti-Islam moves. The religious leader held US responsible for unrest in Balochistan province. Hafiz Hussain Ahmed (Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam -F) said that nobody is against the unity of Ummah. He regrrested that the government has revived the Nato supply routes despite the resolution of the parliament. National Solidarity Commission will also lobby for the implementation of the recommendations of the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), the apex constitutional body which advises the government on the Islamic status of the country’s laws. Top scholars from Deobandi, Barelvi, Ahle-Hadith and Shia schools of thought attended the conference. They include Sahibzada Sultan Ahmad Ali (Tanzimul Arifeen), Hafiz Akif Saeed (Tanzim-e-Islami), , Pir Haroon Gilani (Tehrik-e-Faizan Aulia), Allama Ibtesam Elahi Zaheer (Jamiat Ahli-Hadith) and others./end