[The News (Pak) Top Stories] Minister for Interior Rehman Malik on Monday said religious scholars belonging to different schools of thought were of the view that terrorism and suicide bombings were un-Islamic and funeral prayer of a suicide bomber was not permissible.
Addressing a press conference after attending a meeting with Ulema here at the Chief Minister House, the minister said the participants of the meeting exchanged views in detail about terrorism and all were unanimous in condemning acts of terrorism and suicide bombings.
He said Ulema offered about 20,000 seminary students to fight against terrorism. He said the Pakistan armed forces were capable of defeating terrorists, but the government needed the support of religious scholars on ideological front to frustrate the designs of extremists and terrorists, who were misusing the name of Islam.
Rehman Malik said such meetings with religious scholars would also be held in Lahore and Peshawar under the instructions of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. He said he would hold such meetings with the scholars in Lahore on Dec 10, adding after holding meetings with the religious scholars in all provinces, he would submit a detailed report to the prime minister to counter terrorism. He said the religious scholars belonging to a Madrassa (seminary) in Islamabad extended help to the government, where a terrorist had stayed. He said some heads of the Madrassa have handed over suspected extremists to the government.
Responding to a question about the reported contention of the religious scholars that drone attacks and the American intervention were contributing to terrorism in Pakistan, Malik said parliament had passed a resolution against the drone attacks and the government had not given permission to the US for such attacks.
About the alleged involvement of Indiaís RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) in terrorism in Pakistan, the minister said he had given ìproofsî to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to raise this issue at an appropriate forum, adding the ministry was working on it.
About the entry of the Taliban and arms smuggling to Pakistan, the minister said that it was not easy to seal 2,200 km-long border. However, he added the government was working on a ìborder management action planî. He said the government has also identified three spots at the border, where the biometric system would be installed soon. He categorically stated that Osama bin Laden was not in Pakistan.
About the arrest of David Coleman Headley on charges of terrorism in the US, Malik said Headley had left Pakistan when he was a child. He said if the US provided any information in this regard, the government would help it.
Malik welcomed the statement of MQM Quaid Altaf Hussain for formulating a national policy against terrorism. He added that the government had already established an 'institutionî while a think-tank was being set up and a policy was also being prepared to curb extremism and terrorism.
Meanwhile, a copy of the ìjoint declarationî was distributed among media persons on this occasion. It said the meeting while expressing its concern over the current situation in the country, termed terrorism every form a ìgreat sinî against Islam, humanity and Pakistan.
The participants were of the view that the people involved in terrorism were the enemies of Islam, Pakistan, humanity and the whole nation. The meeting offered Fateha for religious scholars, armed forces personnel and others, who fell victim to terrorism and prayed for the early recovery of the injured. It also urged the government to compensate the heirs of the victims according to the Sharia.
The participants were of the opinion that unity among all sections of society and the nation was needed to ensure internal and external security of the country and pull the country out of the present crisis. The meeting assured the armed forces that the whole nation was supporting them and consider their sacrifices with great regard.
The religious scholars also urged the nation to maintain peace and harmony during Muharram-ul-Haram. The Ulema also urged all scholars to avoid use of undesirable language against any religious school of thought in their sermons and keep their religious gatherings within ìChar Diwariî (confine within religious places or conference rooms).
They also urged the government to record sermons and take strict action against those religious scholars who violate the code of conduct concerned.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, provincial Minister for Religious Affairs Mohammad Sajid Jokhio, Sindh Home Secretary Arif Khan and other officials also attended the meeting. The religious scholars who attended the meeting included Prof Mufti Munib-u-Rehman, Allama Shah Turabul Haq Qadri, Mohammad Shahid Ghori, Mufti Mohammad Rafi Husni, Allama Ghulam Mohammad Sialvi, Haji Mohammad Hanif Tayyab, Mohammad Siddiq Rathore, Allama Qazi Ahmed Noorani, Tariq Mehboob, Allama Mohammad Akram-ul-Mustafa Azmi, Allama Liaquat Azhari and Qari Saleem Akhtar.
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[Pak Daily Times] Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT) Bloody Karachi took out a protest rally from DJ Govt Science College to Bloody Karachi Press Club (KPC) here on Wednesday against the bid to amend the blasphemy law. 
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