Qadri seeks clerics' cooperation to redress social issues

Federal minister lauds role played by clerics to fight pandemic

ISLAMABAD:

Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Minister Pir Noor-ul-Haq Qadri has sought further cooperation of clerics to deal with social issues prevailing in society.

The minister lauded clerics for extending their support during the Covid-19 pandemic and ensuring the implementation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) in mosques and places of worship over the last two years.

He noted that the mosques and religious seminaries remained shut across the world due to the pandemic-induced lockdowns but Pakistan remained an exception and allowed the opening of sacred places.

“Religious scholars of all schools of thought voluntarily followed the Covid-19 protocols and extensively educated the people to curb the spread of this lethal viral infection,” he added.

Keeping in view the positive track record of Ulema, Qadri said the ministry of religious affairs now desired to extend the radius of its cooperation with religious scholars in a bid to cope with other social evils like disinformation, hygiene, women's share in property, population welfare, intolerance and Islamophobia.

Taking part in the discussion, Council of Islamic Ideology Chairman Dr Qibla Ayaz said the council had prepared almost 100 essays over various social issues to bring reforms in all segments of society.

He said after formulating complete guidelines, the compiled literature would be distributed among the clerics.

Mufti Ali Asghar, a member of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, proposed that the media persons should be provided adequate training to counter the fake news. He said it was one of the rising issues and a big source of chaos in society.

He said journalists should be sensitized on journalism ethics as per Quran and Sunnah and let them realise the consequences of propagating false notions both here and in the hereafter.

A number of scholars and clerics participated from across the country and assured the ministry of support to tackle the social issues that came under discussion in the online meeting.