PUC Announces Support For Constructing the Temple
Pakistan Ulema Council Chairperson Hafiz Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi stated, “We are very clear; no extremist group or individual should be allowed to usurp the rights of minorities in the country.”
The Pakistan Ulema Council‘s (PUC) Chairperson Hafiz Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi announced PUC’s support for the construction of a Hindu temple in the capital, and criticised who were making the topic controversial on July 10.
In his talk with the media, Hafiz Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi stated, “We denounce the controversy over construction of the temple. This [making the construction of the temple controversial] by extremist clerics is not correct. PUC will call a meeting and will also present its point of view to the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII).”
Hafiz Ashrafi further discusses the rights that are given to the non-Muslims in Pakistan.
“To have their own place of worship and offer a life as per their faith and tradition are the right given to all non-Muslims in the Constitution and as well as in Sharia,” he said. “Those opposing the construction of the temple have an incorrect interpretation of Sharia.”
Additionally, Hafiz Ashrafi clarified that since the Pakistani Hindus are not residents of a conquered land, the interpretation of non-Muslim rights in Shariah that certain clerics came forward with are not applicable, especially when it comes to building temples.
He mentioned that Pakistan came into existence because of an international agreement, adding that the non-Muslims of our country have played a very positive role for stability in Pakistan.
According to the PUC Chairperson, there is no threat to Islam in allowing non-Muslim minorities to establish their places of worship.
“Dozens of worship places have been established in the country for religious minorities and recently the government constructed the Kartarpur Corridor for Sikh pilgrims,” he said. “Did anybody observed any threat to Islam – No.”
The PUC has been vocal against the extremism that the non-Muslim population of our country faces, and say that they have always played a “frontline role for interfaith harmony” and that they will “continue to do so”.
#Pakistan Ulema Council playing frontline force role for interfaith harmony and for promotion of interfaith dialogue in the country since it's inception.
— TahirMahmoodAshrafi حافظ محمد طاهراشرفى (@TahirAshrafi) July 10, 2020
Chairperson PUC believes that strict actions have to be taken against those who falsely accuse others of blasphemy for their personal interests.
“Even in the Ulema Board there have been several unfounded complaints related to violations of the blasphemy law against the people of religious minorities but we not only turned them down but also warned the complainants in a few cases against lodging false complaints.”
Hafiz Ashrafi mentioned that the Muttahida Ulema Board in Punjab, of which he is the chairperson, have resolved around 105 such cases in the past year.
“We are very clear; no extremist group or individual should be allowed to usurp the rights of minorities in the country.”
It is heartwarming to see that the PUC is supporting the right of Pakistani Hindus to build temples. Let us know what you think in the comments!
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