Peshawar: More than 500 eminent religious scholars and spiritual leaders (Mashaikh) representing all schools of thought from across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Wednesday unanimously reaffirmed their unwavering support for the State of Pakistan in its fight against terrorism, extremism and militancy, calling for indiscriminate and decisive action against terrorists and their facilitators.
The pledge was made during the National Paigham-e-Aman Ulema and Mashaikh Conference, organized by the National Paigham-e-Aman Committee (NPAC), Government of Pakistan, where participants adopted the comprehensive Peshawar Declaration, reaffirming their collective commitment to peace, constitutional supremacy, interfaith harmony, national cohesion and the eradication of terrorism and violent extremism.
The conference brought together more than 500 leading Ulema, Mashaikh, religious scholars, representatives of all schools of thought, minority faith leaders, academics, intellectuals, civil society representatives and social leaders from across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Among those addressing the conference were Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi, Prime Minister’s Coordinator on the National Paigham-e-Aman Committee Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi, Chairman of the Council of Islamic Ideology Dr. Raghib Hussain Naeemi, Mufti Abdul Rahim, Syed Ziaullah Shah Bukhari, Maulana Yousaf Kashmiri, Allama Arif Wahidi, Maulana Zubair Faheem, Maulana Zahid Mansoor, Mufti Jamil Rizvi, Sheikh Abdul Rehman, Maulana Sahib Hussain Haqqani, Mufti Abdul Ghani, Mufti Zain-ul-Abideen, Mufti Karim Khan, Mufti Dawood, Maulana Mikail, Maulana Amin-ur-Rehman, Mufti Abdul Rehman, Maulana Sheikh Rashid, Allama Muhammad Shoaib and Mufti Saeed Karimi.
The participants unanimously reaffirmed their complete endorsement of the Paigham-e-Pakistan national narrative, its unanimous religious decree (Fatwa) and Code of Conduct, describing them as the country’s guiding framework for promoting peace, moderation, constitutional order, religious tolerance, inter-sect and interfaith harmony, and national unity.
They unequivocally condemned terrorism, violent extremism, militancy, sectarianism, religious hatred, Takfir (excommunication), suicide attacks, ethnic and linguistic prejudice and every ideology or action that threatens Pakistan’s peace, stability and national cohesion.
They declared that Islam is a religion of peace, compassion, moderation and the protection of human dignity, and categorically rejected the killing of innocent people, attacks on mosques, Imambargahs, churches, temples, seminaries, educational institutions, hospitals, markets, public and private property, national installations and public assets, describing such acts as contrary to Islamic Shariah, the Constitution and the laws of Pakistan.
The religious scholars and leaders also reaffirmed that the authority to declare Jihad, employ armed force and exercise coercive power rests exclusively with the State of Pakistan, stressing that no individual, group or organization possesses any religious or legal justification to challenge the writ of the state or undertake armed action against it.
Paying tribute to the martyrs of the Pakistan Armed Forces, Police, Rangers, Frontier Corps, other law enforcement agencies and civilians who sacrificed their lives in the fight against terrorism, they expressed solidarity with their families and vowed that the nation would forever honour their sacrifices.
The declaration reiterated the participants’ unwavering commitment to extending full cooperation to the Government of Pakistan, the Pakistan Armed Forces, law enforcement agencies and all national security institutions in the collective struggle against terrorism, extremism, sectarianism and hate-driven violence.
The scholars further emphasized that respect for all schools of thought, all religions, the Prophets of Allah, the Mothers of the Believers, Ahl al-Bayt, the noble Companions of the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him), religious personalities, places of worship and religious symbols constitutes a fundamental requirement of Islamic teachings, the Constitution of Pakistan and national unity.
They pledged that all religious, sectarian and political differences would be resolved exclusively through the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah, the Constitution of Pakistan, the rule of law, dialogue, wisdom and ethical conduct, rejecting violence, hatred and disorder as means of resolving disagreements.
The declaration called upon religious scholars, Mashaikh, Khateebs, Zakireen, preachers, teachers, seminaries, universities, mosques, Khanqahs and religious institutions to play an active role in promoting peace, moderation, tolerance, brotherhood and national unity through sermons, lectures, writings and public discourse.
It also urged the print, electronic and social media to refrain from disseminating falsehood, rumors, hate speech, abusive language, character assassination, incitement and sectarian content, while encouraging responsible journalism and communication that contributes to social harmony and national cohesion.
Recognizing the growing challenge of radicalization, they declared effective cooperation among religious scholars, parents, teachers, educational institutions, media organizations and state institutions essential for protecting young people from extremism, violence, hate-based ideologies and misleading propaganda.
The scholars reaffirmed that every citizen of Pakistan, irrespective of religion, school of thought, ethnicity or language, enjoys equal constitutional rights and that safeguarding the lives, property, dignity, places of worship and religious freedom of all citizens is a shared responsibility of the State and society.
The declaration also pledged continued collaboration among seminaries, universities, mosques, Khanqahs, educational institutions, civil society and community organizations to strengthen constitutional awareness, interfaith dialogue, inter-sect harmony, tolerance and national solidarity.
Emphasizing the need for national unity in addressing contemporary challenges, the participants declared that Pakistan’s internal and external challenges could only be overcome through constitutional supremacy, the rule of law, justice, mutual trust, tolerance and collective national resolve.
Reaffirming the future role of the National Paigham-e-Aman Committee, they pledged to continue working across Pakistan to promote peace, love, brotherhood, religious tolerance, interfaith and inter-sect harmony, eliminate terrorism and extremism, and strengthen national unity.
The conference concluded with a collective prayer for Pakistan’s lasting peace, stability, prosperity and unity, seeking divine protection for the country against terrorism, extremism, sectarianism and discord, praying for the elevation of the ranks of the martyrs, the recovery of the injured, and the continued safety of the Pakistan Armed Forces, law enforcement agencies and all those entrusted with defending the nation.
The participants also prayed that Almighty Allah grant the nation the strength to serve religion, the homeland and humanity in accordance with the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah, the Constitution of Pakistan and the national interest, reaffirming their resolve to make Pakistan a cradle of peace, unity, stability and prosperity for generations to come.
