Armed struggle against State of Pakistan Haram: Ulema

ISLAMABAD: Islamic scholars have agreed unanimously that any armed struggle against the State of Pakistan is ‘Haram’ (forbidden).

A meeting of organisations representing religious seminaries with Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan in the chair was held here on Saturday.

It was decided in the meeting that Madaris will receive foreign funding through the government.

Addressing a press conference at the Punjab House after the meeting, Interior Minister Ch Nisar Ali Khan said the war against terrorism is a war for our survival, and the country requires national unity to eliminate terrorism.

He said: “This war has shifted from the borders to the streets and everybody should take part in the war against anti-state actors.”

Insisting on the need for unity, Nisar said that the media, army, government, religious leaders and political parties were on one page in fighting terrorism. He said Pakistan will definitely win this war and rid the nation of the menace of terrorism.

He said religious seminaries will be registered across the country with the help of religious parties who promised to help the government in eliminating terrorism at every level.

“This is a time-consuming struggle against terrorists which should be fought with unity and courage,” Nisar said. “We are receiving intelligence reports that more terrorist activities may take place”, he said, adding every Pakistani should play their role in combating terrorism.

The interior minister condemned the publishing of blasphemous sketches in European magazines, saying that they were fuelling the fire of terrorism.

He said the National Assembly of Pakistan has passed a unanimous resolution against the publication of blasphemous material.

Ch Nisar said religious leaders belonging to all schools of thought have vowed to cooperate with the government against terrorism. “More than 90 percent of the religious seminaries have nothing to do with terrorism,” he said, adding: “I never said that 10 percent religious seminaries were involved in terrorism.”

He said some people were giving the impression that all seminaries were involved in terrorism, which isn’t true.

The minister said that the entire nation is united in its fight against terrorism. He said that he could see the same passion in the nation that was seen during the 1965 war.

He said that there were a few differences in the details of the matter with two parties but fundamentally all parties were united against terrorism.

He said that the two religio-political parties were on the same page with the government on the question of terrorism. He said the two parties had shared some technical reservations regarding the 21st Amendment.

He said the government would address the concerns of the political parties that still have reservations over the 21st Amendment.

Ch Nisar asked the media to cooperate with the State in its war against the terrorists.
He said the Pakistan Army was facing a dual challenge as India was trying to engage it in border skirmishes. “India does not seem to have good intentions regarding Pakistan. The statements issued by its leaders clearly indicate that it is not ready to let Pakistan deal with the terrorism question,” the interior minister said.

Talking about the recent meeting with the US secretary of state, Nisar said that he made it clear to John Kerry that the aid previously provided by the Americans was nowhere to be seen on the table and that it must be audited, adding that he told the US secretary of state that it has to be seen if the aid provided by the US for fighting terrorism was utilised by Pakistan or was handed over to its own people.

“John Kerry admitted that the US should have reviewed the aid first,” Nisar said.
Responding to a question, Nisar said there should be unity among citizens and politicians to combat terrorism in the country.

“When there was a terrorist attack in Paris, everyone in France was united and showed solidarity. Over here, politicians indulge in ‘finger-pointing’ instead of taking action and coming together,” Nisar said.

He urged religious institutions to cooperate with the government to identify potential terrorists. He said if there is any indication of any terrorist activity at a madrassah, stern action will be taken immediately.

Condemning the attack on the Army Public School, the interior minister said it is not permissible in any religion to slaughter children mercilessly.

“God forbid, if any incident occurs in the near future, I appeal to the entire nation to not disperse, but instead, unite against this menace,” Nisar stressed.

To another question, Nisar said, a committee would be formed to formulate an action plan as well as the mechanism to be used.

The committee would maintain close coordination with each seminary administration to identify any indication of involvement with terrorist activities, upon which immediate action would be taken, he maintained.
Ch Nisar, responding to a question said that government was responsible for the shortage of petrol, adding that the it should have taken measures prior to the shortage.