Karachi massacre: Clerics say killers have no religion

Vow to wage struggle against menace of terrorism, extremism.

ISLAMABAD: While condemning the massacre of Ismailis in Karachi, representatives of various parties and schools of thought have said that the killers have no religion.

They were speaking at the “Ithad-e-Ummah Conference”, organised by the Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) here on Thursday.

They announced they would wage a collective struggle against the menaces of terrorism, extremism and sectarianism.

They also announced they would observe a protest day on Saturday to express solidarity with victims of the Safora Goth incident, where 45 Ismailis were killed by unidentified assailants.

The participants termed the killing against the teachings of Islam and the Quran.

The conference, chaired by PUC Chairperson Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi, was also attended by Shia Ulema Council Secretary General Allama Arif Waheedi, International Islamic Study Council President Mian Abu Bakar, Qazi Kifayatullah, Dr Allama Shabbir Hassam Mesmi and others.

Azad Jammu and Kashmir President Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob was the chief guest.

A joint declaration was also issued which said that some elements were spreading terrorism and extremism in the country in the name of Islam besides trying to create controversy over the sanctity and security of Harmain-e-Sharifain.

They underlined that operation Zarb-e-Azb was being carried out with the support of the entire nation, but the government has failed to ensure implementation of the National Action Plan, agreed upon to flush out terrorists, who continue to carry out attacks with impunity.

The AJK president said that Islam calls for peace, tolerance and patience and those who use it for their ulterior motives have no place in Islam.

Allama Waheedi said that the government should ensure implementation of the National Action Plan as its non-implementation led to the massacre of Ismailis.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 15^th, 2015.