Ulema, Mashaikh Council Constituted To Control Sectarianism: Senate Told

Ulema, Mashaikh Council constituted to control sectarianism: Senate told

ISLMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Jan, 2017 ) : Minister of State for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Pir Amin-ul-Hasnat Tuesday informed the Senate that National Ulema and Mashaikh Council has been constituted to control sectarianism in the country.

During question hour in the Upper House, the minister said the council has representation from all Wifaqs, all schools of thought and all provinces. It has been assigned the duty to promote religious harmony and to remove hate literature from the curriculum of the Madaris.

He said two committees have been established under the council including Steering Committee and Curriculum Committee. It has also been proposed by the council that an Ulema board may be established at national level to monitor hate literature and speech and to recommend legal action against such material.

The minister said the ministry regularly arranges Seerat Conference on 12th of Rabi ul Awwal in Islamabad, wherein prominent Ulema, Mashaikh, scholars and people from all walks of life participate.

"These conferences provide a forum to present their ideas and thoughts on Seerah and teachings of Holy Prophet (PBUH) which also proved to be instrumental in elimination of hatred and prejudices amongst different classes of the society and creating harmony among all sects," he added.

He said competitions of Seerat Books, Naat and articles on life, teachings and Seerah of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) are organized in regional, national and international languages for men and women.

Prizes are awarded to position holders. Amin-ul-Hasnat said the competitions also prove to be a source of dissemination of teachings of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) which contain teachings regarding tolerance and harmony.

He said that Federal minister for religious affairs and interfaith harmony held meetings with the Ulema of all Muslims sects in five big cities Karachi, Lahore, Peshawsar, Quetta and Islamabad to persuade them to abide by a common code of conduct which also contains avoidance from hate speech and literature, which play an important role in creating harmony among different sects.

"The ministry has prepared a Calendar of unified timings for Azan and Prayers which has been provided to all mosques of Islamabad for implementation that will also create sectarian harmony and tolerance among the public," he added.

To another question, the minister said in the wake of 18th Constitutional amendment, the ministry has been mandated the task of policy and legislation with regard to interfaith harmony in the country.

He said issues pertaining to protection of minorities in the country are outside the mandate of the ministry of religious affairs and relates to ministry of interior, ministry of human rights and provincial governments.