Unsheathing claws: PUC to mobilise leaders against PTI

MULTAN: Pakistan Ulema Council central president Tahir Ahrafi announced on Tuesday that the PUC would launch a movement against the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf. He accused the PTI of inciting religious intolerance in the country. Ashrafi was addressing a press conference in Khanewal. He said the PUC members will persuade around 12,000 religious leaders to take a stance against PTI chief Imran Khan. He said the leaders will use their pulpits to make announcements against the PTI. The PUC will contest elections from every constituency in the upcoming elections. Ashrafi said they had the support of all enlightened religious scholars in the country. He said western powers incorrectly blamed religious seminaries for promoting violence and religious intolerance. He said in reality, political parties and leaders like Khan promoted intolerance against minorities. He said religion was the best tool that the government could use to control its problems.  “All issues, whether pertaining to democracy or women’s empowerment could be resolved by giving religious scholars the place they deserve in the Constitution and in society.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 10^th, 2014.