- Advertisement -
FAISALABAD, Nov 06 (APP): Chairman Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) Hafiz Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi said on Thursday that the Rs. 25,000 honorarium announced by the government for mosque imams is purely a goodwill gesture and form of financial assistance, not a compulsory allowance.
Speaking to the media alongside Ulema and Mashaikh, he clarified that every religious scholar has the personal choice to accept or decline the honorarium. “No fear or misunderstanding is being spread in this regard,” he stressed.
Ashrafi said he stood at the forefront in defending the sanctity of the pulpit and the prayer niche, vowing never to tolerate any conspiracy or sectarian provocation against religious leadership. He called it unwise to measure a scholar’s faith or integrity in monetary terms, terming such attitudes disrespectful to religious traditions.
Highlighting the hardships of imams in rural areas who often earn as little as Rs. 10,000 per month, he said the government’s initiative should be viewed as a humanitarian and welfare measure to support those who serve their communities.
Referring to the State Bank’s October 1 directive, Ashrafi noted that 16 boards under Ittehad Tanzimat-e-Madaris are being registered with banks and the Ministry of Education to open official accounts. He urged any religious boards facing difficulties to contact him directly for assistance, assuring full coordination with academic and religious institutions.
He categorically rejected rumours that the government intends to take over seminaries or appoint official khateebs, calling such claims baseless and decades-old. “Neither the government nor the religious leadership has any dispute with seminaries, imams, or ulema. Protecting the dignity and honor of all religious leaders across Pakistan is our top priority,” he said.
Referring to the Paigham-e-Pakistan initiative, Ashrafi said it continues to serve as a strong framework for national unity and security, supported by religious scholars and institutions. He revealed that nearly 18,000 ulema from all schools of thought have signed a joint declaration rejecting extremism and promoting inter-sect harmony. Committees formed under this initiative will soon be activated at the grassroots level to introduce educational and structural reforms in mosques and seminaries, he added.
Stressing national defence, Ashrafi said that in times of need, about three million seminary students across Pakistan will stand shoulder to shoulder with the Pakistan Army. “There is only one jihadist force in Pakistan, and that is the Pakistan armed forces,” he declared, urging those wishing to serve the cause of jihad and national defense to join the military.
Condemning violence and sectarian killings in the name of religion, he said that shedding blood, spreading hatred, or beheading people under the pretext of Islam is un-Islamic and unacceptable. He urged peace committees, ulema, and community leaders to strengthen peace and stability nationwide.
Ashrafi appealed to the public to act responsibly, avoid false propaganda, and report genuine concerns through official channels for timely resolution. He reiterated that the Rs. 25,000 honorarium should be seen as a benevolent and positive step to support religious servants, not as a source of controversy or fear.