Clerics on same page on polio fight: Noorul Haq Qadri

Minister says elements with vested interests spreading misinformation against vaccination campaign

PESHAWAR: Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Dr Noorul Haq Qadri said on Sunday elements with vested interests were spreading misinformation about the anti-polio campaign.

“Religious scholars across the country agree that children need to be vaccinated against polio,” he told the audience at 8th meeting of National Islamic Scholars Council in Peshawar.

The conference was attended by Islamic scholars representing various schools of thought.

“The people responsible for the recent wave of propaganda against the polio eradication drive will not succeed in their nefarious designs,” the minister said.

Speaking on other matters, Qadri brushed aside “assumptions” that the government intended to close down seminaries throughout the country.

He urged madrassa students and teachers to not pay heed to such rumours.

Qadri conceded that there was still hate material in textbooks.

“The government is serious about removing hate material from textbooks because our religion teaches us to respect other faiths,” he added.

“No one would be allowed to issue fatwas calling for somebody’s murder as it’s the responsibility of the state to decide such matters. Anyone who challenges the writ of the state will be dealt with sternly.”



Qadri said his ministry would soon send a letter to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regularity Authority (Pemra) telling it to direct TV channels to only invite renowned religious scholars for their Ramazan transmissions.

He noted that over 21,000 Pakistanis would perform Hajj this year as the quota for Pakistani pilgrims had been increased by the Saudi government.

The minister also said the current government wanted to give constitutional status to the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee after consulting all stakeholders.

He advised religious scholars to speak about importance of a clean and green Pakistan during their Friday sermons.

Qadri said the government was committed to take all clerics on board to make Pakistan an Islamic welfare state where the rights of minorities were protected.

He urged clerics to play an effective role for the promotion of unity and diversity in the country and to guide the government for the establishment of Riasat-e-Madina.

He stressed the need to discourage violence and hatred through scholarly discourse and constructive debate.

During the conference, other speakers unanimously called for an increased role of religious scholars at the national and regional level to work for peace and sectarian harmony.