ISLAMABAD: Except Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ), almost all religious parties here on Tuesday expressed concerns over a recent resolution passed by the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) and decided to meet diplomats of Muslim states in this regard.

In the resolution passed during a meeting in Turkey last week, the OIC criticised Iran for allegedly supporting terrorism in several countries, including Syria, Yemen, Iraq and Bahrain.

The meeting of the religious parties held under the banner of ‘Rahber Committee’ in Islamabad discussed a wide range of issues facing Pakistan and the Muslim world and decided to organise a religious bloc across the country.

Clerics say differences between Iran and Saudi Arabia should end for unity of Ummah

Apart from the components of the Milli Yekjehti Council (MYC), the new participants in the Rahber Committee meeting were the office-bearers of JUI-S, JUI-F, Jamiat-i-Ulema Pakistan (Noorani) and Markazi Jamiat Ahle Hadis.

Some other important players in the rightwing politics such as Jammatud Dawa and Majlis-i-Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM) were already part of the MYC.

Expressing concerns over the OIC resolution, the meeting of the religious parties stated: “There was no strong voice for the support of Kashmir and Palestine. Besides, some steps were taken which would lead to the division of the Islamic world,” said a senior office-bearer of the JUP requesting not to be named as his party did not authorise him to speak to the media.

“The current scenario demands unity in the Muslim world, and there is no need to criticise each other,” he added.

Addressing a press conference after the meeting, Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) emir Sirajul Haq said the religious parties had concerns over the situation and it had been suggested that differences between Iran and Saudi Arabia should end.

“The Rahber Committee has decided to meet the envoys of Islamic nations and express their concerns over the growing discontent between the two Muslim powers,” Sirajul Haq added.

Shia Ulema Council leader Allama Sajid Naqvi, who was also present, added that unity among the religious parties was a ‘healthy sign.’

The next meeting of the Rahber Committee will be held on April 22 in Mansoora, Lahore, to finalise arrangements for holding conferences to highlight the ‘current issues faced by the country.’

The JI chief said a decision was also taken to raise voice against corruption, terrorism and authoritarian style of rule by the incumbent government.

“We cannot allow the government to formulate laws that are against Islam and the Constitution of the country,” he said, referring to the Women Protection Bill 2016 passed by the Punjab assembly.

Liaquat Baloch said there were conspiracies against the ideological foundation of the state.

“But the rulers will never succeed. Clerics have shunned all their internal differences only for the larger cause and would work together against corruption and anti-Islam acts by the rulers,” he added.

Calling the bill ‘un-Islamic’, he demanded Punjab government take back the Women Protection Bill. He also demanded for a fair and just commission to probe the accusations leveled in the Panama leaks.

The committee was formed during the Nizam-i-Mustafa conference held in Mansoora on April 2, 2016, while a special steering committee led by Liaquat Baloch will act as the main coordinator between the parties of the MYC and the new entrants.

However, a cleric belonging to the MWM said the Rahber Committee had been formed to allow all religious groups to join the platform. “But we have categorically stated that terror groups will not be part of the alliance,” he said, referring to the ASWJ. “And these views have been supported by the JUI-F, JUP and some other components too.”

Published in Dawn, April 20th, 2016