Ashrafi stresses national unity to defeat sectarianism

Chairman Pakistan Ulema Council and Coordinator of the Prime Minister’s Peace Committee, Allama Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi, has said that Pakistan’s peace and stability are more precious than life itself and that no one will be allowed to undermine national harmony. Addressing a harmony seminar organized by the National Peace Message Committee in Chiniot on Monday, he stressed that the challenges facing the Muslim world could only be overcome through unity, consensus and mutual respect among all schools of thought. The seminar was attended by religious scholars from different sects, social and community leaders, members of peace committees and a large number of citizens. Allama Ashrafi said Islam promotes peace, tolerance, brotherhood and coexistence, adding that those seeking to spread sectarian hatred and unrest deserved no leniency. He highlighted a statement by Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, declaring the desecration of Sunni holy sites forbidden, describing it as a significant step toward strengthening unity within the Muslim Ummah. Referring to regional developments, Ashrafi said the Muslim world must stand together in the face of common challenges. He reiterated Pakistan’s longstanding support for Islamic solidarity, the rights of the Palestinian and Kashmiri people, and efforts aimed at promoting peace and stability across the region. He also emphasized the importance of dialogue and cooperation among Muslim countries to address conflicts and shared concerns.—APP