Tahir Ashrafi challenges Fawad, wants minister to have debate with him

Chairman PUC says action must be taken if a cleric issues wrong ‘fatwa’ and insists all clerics must not be maligned

Chairman Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) Hafiz Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi on Friday challenged Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry to have a debate with him after the minister made controversial statements about religious clerics, calling them a ‘threat’ to Pakistan.



Speaking at a news conference at Lahore Press Club, he said, “During Pakistan’s fights against terrorism and the freedom movement, religious clerics played a major and important role. Religious clerics have sacrificed their lives for the sake of peace in the country.”

“When the clerics were fighting against terrorism, Fawad Chaudhry was busy in studying law. The government must take action against those who spread anarchy in the name of religion.”

In a clear reference to Fawad Chaudhry, he continued, “One minister in the government always makes statements against religious clerics. If someone issues a wrong ‘fatwa’, take action against that cleric. Not all clerics are bad.”

“All religious clerics must not be maligned. They are the ones who spread peace. If today there is peace in the country and terrorism is eliminated, it is made possible because of the efforts of religious clerics,” Ashrafi insisted.

Chairman PUC urged PM Imran to speak to his ministers and help change their behaviours.

Commenting on Fawad’s push for using science for the Islamic calendar and doing away with the traditional moon sighting method used by the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, he said, “There is no harm in using latest technology for sighting of the moon but Prime Minister Imran Khan must constitute a committee with religious clerics and astronomy experts on board.”

Chairman PUC also lauded the government’s effort to bring changes in Pakistan on the same principles at which the state of Medina was born thousands of years ago.

“If PM Imran wants to turn Pakistan into a welfare state like Madina, it is a good gesture. Quaid-e-Azam also had the same dream. The government should make a proper system of accountability in the country.”

Ever since Fawad Chaudhry took an oath for his new portfolio, he has been in hot waters every time when the minister tweets or makes statements involving religious clerics.



In May, he had launched Pakistan’s first moon sighting website and invited renowned clerics Mufti Muneebur Rehman and Shahabuddin Popalzai to see “how the moon cycle works”.

Recently, Fawad termed religious clerics a ‘threat’ to Pakistan and appreciated Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari for taking a stance against them in the opposition’s all parties’ conference (APC).