Reconciliation: Resolve impasse through talks says PUC

PUC decided to take part in next elections.

LAHORE: The Central Majlis-i-Shura of the Pakistan Ulema Council [PUC] on Monday stressed the need for dialogue and reconciliation to resolve the current political crisis.

The shura met at Baitul Amn under its chairman Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi.

It urged Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) leader Tahirul Qadri to settle the issues through talks.

The shura decided that the PUC would participate in the next elections. It said cooperation would be extended to the parties endorsing the PUC’s manifesto and code-of-conduct.



The shura decided to establish Wafaqal Madaras Pakistan in order to bring mosques all over the country under an organised system.

All mosques and seminaries affiliated with the PUC will operate under Wafaqal Madaras, Pakistan.

Ashrafi told the meeting nobody would be allowed to resort to violence in the name of religion or politics.

“Our struggle for inter-sectarian harmony and inter-faith dialogue will continue.

He said a few thousand people did not have the right to decide the country’s fate.

“Pakistan has a Constitution and laws. All political and religious parties should put forward their demands while remaining within the ambit of the Constitution,” he said.

He said the nation would not allow any attempt to revoke or invalidate the country’s Constitution.

PUC Secretary General Sahibzada Zahid Mahmood Qasmi said the government should take strong action against those inciting sectarian violence in the country.

“Tahirul Qadri and Imran Khan should have mercy for women, children and the elderly attending the sit-ins… they should be allowed to go home.” Qasmi said the PUC would hold nationwide conferences and gatherings for stability in Pakistan.

Various committees were formed during the meeting to mobilise the PUC in madrassas, schools and universities.

Those who attended the meeting included Maulana Muhammad Ayub Safdar, Hafiz Muhammad Abdullah, Maulana Muhammad Amjad Muawiya, Abdul Khaliq, Muhammad Ahmad Nadeem, Muhammad Ashfaq, Muhammad Tariq Nadeem, Muhammad Shafi Qasmi, Mufti Amjad Ali, Rao Muhammad Nasir Yamin, Muhammad Aijaz Shakri, Syed Abdul Ghaffar Shah, Bilal Ahmad, Maulana Waqar Ahmad Usmani, Maulana Qari Ahmad Ali Nadeem, Qari Fida Hussain Shah, Mufti Umar Farooq, Maulana Kaleemullah Muawiya, Maulvi Faheemul Hassan, Muhammad Khalid, Maulana Samiullah Rabbani, Qari Muhammad Siddiq Madni, Maulana Liaquat Ali, Mufti Asad Yousuf, Mufti Umar Farooq, Maulana Muhammad Azam Farooq, Qari Muhammad Ramazan Tahir, Mahmoodul Hassan, Ihtishamul Haq, Hafiz Muhammad Ilyas Qadri, Muhammad Ashraf Malik, Hafiz Tariq Muawiya and Sahibzada Shakilur Rehman Qasmi.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 26^th, 2014.