Ulema play vital role in society: President Alvi

ISLAMABAD: A delegation of the Ulema Mashaikh Yakjehti Council of Pakistan (UMYC) called on President Dr Arif Alvi at Aiwan-e-Sadr here on Wednesday.

Highlighting the importance of the role of Ulema and Mashaikh, the president said called upon the members of the delegation to help bring a positive social change among the masses.

President Alvi said that extremism, terrorism and sectarianism can only be eliminated from the society by highlighting the true teachings of Islam in the light of the Holy Quran, Sunnah and Ahadith of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

According to the national news agency, President Alvi urged the role of Ulema and Mashaikh for inculcating ethical and moral values in society, promoting the conservation of resources, national solidarity, religious tolerance, and inter-faith harmony and peace.

He said that the challenges of terrorism and militancy in Pakistan require a comprehensive action plan coupled with concerted efforts on the part of the Ulema in the areas of counter-extremism and counter-terrorism.

President Alvi said that Pakistan could achieve progress and its rightful place in the comity of nations through discipline, persistence, moral righteousness, and promoting social justice.

He said that youth should be educated on tolerance, forgiveness, and peace as these were the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

The president said that Islam emphasised the conservation of resources and avoiding wastage. The Ulema should also help promote moderate, responsible and sustainable consumption of resources, especially fuel and energy, through their Friday sermons in the mosques.

The delegation was led by UMYC Chairman Qari Hidayat Ullah Mirani and consisted of Muhammad Younas Qureshi, Maulana Gul Wali, Major Ehtasham Uddin Kiyani, Prof Abdul Ghaffar Shah Bukhari, Abdul Rahim Abbasi, Noor Elahi, Fahad Maqsood, Hameed Ullah Khan, Sheikh Mazhar Hussain, Sheikh Zia ur Rehman, Alama Mufti Mehmood Ahmed Tabasam and Jamal Khan.