Ulema agree on code for inter-sect harmony

ISLAMABAD:

Religious scholars belonging to all the various Islamic schools of thought have agreed on a 20-point code of conduct to promote peace and inter-sect harmony in the country.

This code of conduct – signed by over a dozen religious scholars as well as the Federal Minister for Inter-faith Harmony Noorul Haq Qadri and the Council of Islamic Ideology (CCI) Chairman Dr Qibla Ayaz – was drafted in the Paigham-e-Pakistan Conference organized by the CCI on Tuesday.

The Paigham-e-Pakistan was a fatwa sought by the government of Pakistan in 2018 to counter terrorism. It was prepared by the International Islamic University and signed by 1,800 religious scholars of Pakistan.

The code of conduct agreed upon on Tuesday urged the government to ensure protection of non-Muslims and to promote interfaith harmony by banning airing of controversial speeches on TV, print and electronic media.

It said it is obligatory on every citizen to recognize and accept the Constitution of Pakistan and fulfill their oath of loyalty to the state.

“All citizens should ensure implementation of all basic rights of the people enshrined in the Constitution that pertain to social and political lives, freedom of expression, right to worship and religious beliefs etc.

“The protection of the Islamic identity of the Constitution should be guaranteed. It is the right of every citizen to strive peacefully for the implementation of Sharia laws in the country.”

The code said armed struggle against the state and spreading chaos in the name of religion should be considered an act of rebellion. Such acts, it said, are against the spirit of Islam and no individual has the right to declare any person, government or state institution an infidel.

It is necessary for ulemas, scholars and citizens to support state institutions, especially those tasked with enforcing law and order so that terrorism can be rooted out from society and every individual should abstain from joining any anti-state movement that focuses on ethnic, religious and sectarian issues.

“No person should spread inter sect hatred or engage in inter sect armed conflicts. He should also not impose his ideals upon another person. “

It said private, government and religious educational institutions should neither train nor provide knowledge relating to militancy, hatred and extremism to students.

“Strict action, based on solid evidence and proof, will be taken against such institutions or elements found involved in these practices,” it added.

According to the code, strict action will be taken against any elements found promoting extremism, sectarian hatred and torture, regardless of which organization or belief they belong to.

All sects belonging to Islam have the right to propagate their message but no one will be allowed to utter any sentence which promotes hate against any person, institution or organization.

It said no one will be allowed to insult the Holy Prophet (PBUH), the righteous caliphs (RA), the prophet’s family members (AS), the prophet’s companions (RA) and the prophet’s respected wives (RA).

It, however, clarified that a person or group will neither be allowed to take the law into their hands nor obstruct the investigation or prosecution of cases pertaining to blasphemy cases.

It said it is the prerogative of the courts to decide who is guilty of an act of kufr. The definition of a Muslim, as mentioned in the Constitution, will remain the same.

No person will commit acts of terrorism and neither provide training to terrorists. He will neither be involved in any terrorist activities nor include militants into his organisation.

“Religious, public and private educational institutions will accommodate the differences of opinion of various Islamic schools of thought in their syllabi as religious institutions are the best places where ideological differences can be studied and investigated.”

It said all Muslim citizens and government officials will carry out their duties based on the laws of Islam and the Constitution and Islamic knowledge regarding the rights of the elderly, women, children and the differently-abled will be provided at every level.

The code said it is the right of the non-Muslim citizens of Pakistan to practice their religious activities according to their beliefs. It said Islam protects the rights of women and no person is allowed to snatch their rights of employment, vote and education from women.

“People should abstain from committing acts such as marrying women to the Holy Quran, honour killings, karo kari, vani and other similar practices as these are against the teachings of Islam.”

It said no person will use the mosque pulpits, imam bargahs or majalis to make speeches or issue controversial statements that promote inter sect hatred. Controversial statements on sectarian issues should be avoided on print, electronic and social media.

“Freedom of expression operates within the Constitution and the laws of Islam, hence no programme should be aired on media that promote sectarian hatred or damages Pakistan's Islamic identity.”