Urging the government to thoroughly investigate entire saga of Tehreek Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLYR) sit-in, Chairman Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) Hafiz Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi has said that criticizing army and security agencies of the country has become a fashion nowadays. Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, Ashrafi flanked by Maulana Abdul Hameed Sabri, Maulana Nauman Hashir and other senior PUC members said that elements pointing fingers at the role of security forces for not taking action against sit-in participants should be questioned whether they wanted the military personnel to use guns to gun them down.
When civil administration miserably failed to control the sit-in protesters, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi tasked Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa to overcome the situation and the military leadership resolved the issue through peaceful dialogue instead of using force, said Ashrafi. The endeavours on account of security institutions and other notable individuals to make an end to sit-in peacefully were laudable, he added.
The PUC demanded investigation into all the affairs relating to arrival of protesters and blockage of Faizabad by the TLYR, he said, and announced to carry out a countrywide campaign for annihilation of terrorism and extremism from 12th Rabi-ul-Awal onwards. Ashrafi said "it is the responsibility of each and every Muslim to remain firm for protection of belief on 'Finality of Prophethood.' Demands raised by leadership of TLYR were right as people of Pakistan want to know, who is responsible for making amendment in declaration of electoral reforms bill regarding 'Finality of Prophethood'."
If Zahid Hamid had resigned from his office earlier, 10 precious lives and worth billions of rupees could have been saved, Ashrfai said. The PUC had been raising voice to settle this issue through peaceful talks since this issue emerged but due to egoistic attitude on part of some ministers, the entire situation spoiled.
PUC welcomes Islamic Military Alliance and categorical stance of Commander General Raheel Sharif who has made it clear that this alliance has been constituted to uproot menace of terrorism and extremism and owns no intention against any country or religious sect. He pinpointed that PUC leadership would support and endorse every bid for annihilation of extremism and terrorism from the Muslim world.
Responding to a query, Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi underlined that leadership of security forces had always played key and crucial role, being facilitator and mediator, in face of any challenge to the country. Either it has been the long march for restoration of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry or controversy between President Ishaq Khan and Nawaz Sharif, military leadership has played key role in defusing riots and chaos from the country in a peaceful way.
At a time when the entire country was blocked by sit-in protesters, military leadership did not make a wrong decision and settled the situation in a peaceful way. Replying to another query, Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi stated that entire nation had reposed trust in Raja Zafar-ul-Haq and nation should wait patiently for his report. Further resignations would also come soon from responsible ministers as Zahid Hamid was not alone in that matter, said Ashrafi.
Senior leaders of PUC including Maulana Tahir Aqeel Awan, Maulana Hafeez-ur-Rehman, Maulana Shahbaz Ahmed, Maulana Naib Khan, Maulana Ilyas Muslim, Maulana Mumtaz Rabbani, Maulana Umar Sharif and Maulana Ashfaq Patafi were also present on the occasion.
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