LAHORE, Nov 01 (APP): Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) Chairman and Secretary General International Tazeem-e-Haramain Sharifain Council Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi has called upon Muslim countries to set aside their differences, strengthen mutual cooperation and forge a united strategy to address regional and international challenges.
Addressing a Tazeem-e-Haramain Sharifain Conference here on Sunday, he said collective efforts were essential for peace, stability and security across the Muslim world.
The chairman said the Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs were playing an important role in bringing Muslim countries closer and promoting unity within the Muslim Ummah amid the prevailing regional situation. He said Israel, India and their allies were pursuing designs to destabilise the Muslim world, stressing that unity and collective action were necessary to counter such challenges. He appreciated Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir’s diplomatic efforts to strengthen solidarity among Muslim countries, particularly amid tensions involving Iran, Israel and the United States.
Referring to Pakistan’s diplomatic engagement with regional countries, he said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia were closely concerned about developments in the region and their implications for the Muslim Ummah. He stressed that Muslim countries needed to work together to safeguard their collective interests and prevent further instability.
Ashrafi said Pakistan’s armed forces and people stood shoulder to shoulder with Saudi Arabia in protecting Haramain Sharifain, adding that the security and sanctity of Makkah Mukarramah and Madinah Munawwarah were of paramount importance to the entire Muslim Ummah. He added the Pakistan Ulema Council’s central Shura and executive body had decided to extend full support to the government’s policy regarding the defence of Haramain Sharifain and the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia defence agreement. He termed Pakistan’s role in supporting Saudi Arabia’s security a matter of national honour and said the armed forces deserved recognition for their commitment to this responsibility. He urged political and religious leaders to demonstrate unity and avoid differences over national security and the challenges facing the Muslim world.
Referring to the situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he said maintaining peace in the province was a collective national responsibility and assured the provincial government of the Pakistan Ulema Council’s full cooperation in this regard.
He said that the Pakistan Ulema Council would establish Dar-ul-Sulh (reconciliation centres) at its centres across the country from December 1 to help resolve family and social disputes through dialogue and mediation. He added mosques should serve not only as centres of worship and Quranic education but also play an effective role in social reform, promoting harmony and strengthening family relationships.
Referring to the National Paigham-e-Aman Committee, he said religious scholars from different schools of thought had demonstrated that they could sit together, overcome differences and work collectively for Islam and Pakistan.
The conference concluded with a resolve that the Pakistan Ulema Council would continue its efforts for peace, national unity, religious tolerance, inter-sect harmony, youth guidance, strengthening the family system and social reform across the country.
Source: APP (Associated Press of Pakistan)
