LAHORE, Jun 19 (APP):Prime Minister’s Coordinator and Chairman of the Pakistan Ulema Council, Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi, on Friday called for promoting peace, tolerance, mutual respect and national unity during Muharram-ul-Haram, while urging the nation to offer gratitude to Almighty Allah for Pakistan's successful diplomatic efforts in advancing regional peace. Addressing a Friday congregation, Ashrafi said the country was observing a Day of Thanksgiving, expressing gratitude to Allah Almighty …
Ashrafi hails Pakistan’s diplomatic successes in advancing regional peace, calls for unity during Muharram
LAHORE, Jun 19 (APP):Prime Minister’s Coordinator and Chairman of the Pakistan Ulema Council, Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi, on Friday called for promoting peace, tolerance, mutual respect and national unity during Muharram-ul-Haram, while urging the nation to offer gratitude to Almighty Allah for Pakistan’s successful diplomatic efforts in advancing regional peace.
Addressing a Friday congregation, Ashrafi said the country was observing a Day of Thanksgiving, expressing gratitude to Allah Almighty for enabling Pakistan’s leadership to play a significant role in promoting peace through dialogue and diplomacy.
He commended the efforts of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Senator Mohsin Naqvi and other national institutions for their contributions to Pakistan’s diplomatic initiatives.
Ashrafi said the collective efforts of Pakistan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and other brotherly Muslim countries had resulted in encouraging progress toward peace and stability in the region.
He also praised the leadership of Saudi Arabia, particularly Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, as well as the leadership of Iran and the United States, for supporting diplomatic efforts, saying every initiative that promotes peace ultimately serves humanity.
Highlighting the significance of Muharram-ul-Haram, Ashrafi urged followers of all schools of thought to demonstrate mutual respect, restraint and religious tolerance.
“Our guiding principle should be: ‘Do not abandon your own school of thought, but do not provoke or insult the beliefs of others,'” he said, describing the message as the foundation of unity within the Muslim Ummah.
Ashrafi said Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) is a revered personality for all Muslims and stressed that anyone seeking to create divisions in his name could not be regarded as a well-wisher of the Ummah.
He said after achieving important diplomatic and defence successes, Pakistan must now focus on strengthening internal stability and economic development, objectives that can only be realized through national unity, moderation and tolerance.
Expressing concern over the misuse of social media, Ashrafi warned against the circulation of sectarian rumours, provocative videos, audio recordings and inflammatory posts.
He urged the public not to forward such content but instead report it to the relevant authorities so that legal action could be taken against those responsible.
Ashrafi emphasized that no one had the right to declare fellow Muslims as unbelievers, use abusive language or insult the sacred personalities and beliefs of any school of thought.
He called upon religious scholars, prayer leaders and speakers to play their role in strengthening inter-sect harmony, promoting unity among Muslims and reinforcing national cohesion.
The Pakistan Ulema Council chairman said the implementation of the National Paigham-e-Aman Committee’s Code of Conduct for Muharram-ul-Haram and the unanimously agreed decisions of scholars representing all schools of thought at the Council of Islamic Ideology would provide a durable foundation for lasting peace in the country.
Concluding his address, Ashrafi prayed for continued peace and stability in Pakistan and across the Muslim world. He also prayed for freedom and peace for the Palestinian people and for the people of Jammu and Kashmir to realize their internationally recognized right to self-determination.
