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Thursday, December 12, 2013
Sectarian violence : Religious leaders for implementation of code of conduct
Staff Report
LAHORE: A grand conference of 32 religious groups and political parties under the umbrella of Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) on Wednesday demanded the government implement the recently prepared code of conduct and make it a formal law to curb sectarian violence in the country.
The ‘Istehkam-e-Pakistan Conference’ was attended by PUC Chairman Maulana Tahir Asharfi, Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General and Milli Yakjehti Council Secretary General Liaquat Baloch, Jamaatud Dawa leader Amir Hamza, Sunni Ittehad Council Chairman Syed Mahfooz Mashhadi, PPP’s Naveed Chaudhry, Shia Ulema Council Vice President Hafiz Raza Naqvi, Mujeebur Rehman Inqlabi from Jamia Ashrafia and other scholars.
Addressing the conference, Maulana Tahir Asharfi said that participants of the conference have announced their support for the prescribed code of conduct and pledged to abide by these regulations.
He said they would also present a resolution on Friday for the arrest of killers of innocents and implementation of the code of conduct across the country.
Presenting the joint statement, Ashrafi announced that they would organise conferences in all provinces of the country to establish peace and harmony in Pakistan.
The conference decided that Sunni Ittehad Council leader Mahfooz Mashhadi would help table the bill of code of conduct in the Punjab Assembly.
Liaquat Baloch said that “today our mosques and imambargahs are target of sectarian violence and we must unmask the faces behind this evil design”. He said the code of conduct could ensure religious peace in the country. He also demanded implementation of the capital punishment to make such criminals an example for terrorists.
PPP’s Naveed Chaudhry said it was right time to bring the resolution and PPP would completely support this step to ensure peace in the country.
The speakers called for immediate arrest of those responsible for the Rawalpindi incident and murder of Maulana Deedar Hussain Jalbani, Maulana Shamsur Rehman and other scholars.
They further demanded that the government take steps for the execution of the prescribed code of conduct.
They pledged that they would hold meetings with all political, religious members along with members of parliament and launch a campaign across the country to execute the prescribed code of conduct.
They also announced to pass resolutions on Friday against the Rawalpindi incident and killings in Karachi and for implementation of the prescribed code of conduct.
The conference also decided to make a committee under the name of ‘Tahafuz Namoos Sahaba wa Ahlebait Action Committee’ to bring the prescribed code of conduct into action.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk