War against terror was not Pakistani war ,,Pakistan was dragged into it: Ulema Peace Convention

Islamabad 29Th May,2012
 Senior Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Awami National Party (ANP) Bashir Ahmed Bilour Tuesday said NATO’s Afghan war was never Pakistan’s war but when Pakistani nation was dragged into it and Pakistani people , women and children started getting killed, it became Pakistan's war.
Speaking at three-day Ulema Peace Convention, organized by Majlis Saut-ul-Islam at a local hotel here in Islamabad, Bashir Bilour said a military dictator changed country’s foreign policy on one telephone call and for last 10 years, Pakistani nation is paying the price for some people’s short sightedness and intolerance.
“But this war against terror has become our war and now there would be no talks with terrorists unless they lay their arms and come to table unarmed. There is a need for preaching non-violence by the Ulema as wars have never resolved any problem anywhere in the world” he maintained.
He also lambasted country’s establishment for fighting three “baseless” wars with India and indulging in recent Kargil adventure and urged the young and veteran Ulema to apprise people about importance of peace, non-violence and tolerance.
Bashir Bilour claimed that ANP government negotiated with terrorists in Swat and had agreements with them for enforcement of Shariat and Nizam-e-Adal in Swat valley but added that never wanted to resolve their issues through talks.
“They (Swat militants) told us that they would be going to occupy Islamabad and then enforce Islam there but you saw that enforcement of Islamic system of governance was never their real objective” he further claimed.
KPK Senior Minister said government and security forces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa fought with terrorists who used to carry out blasts after every 24, 36 and 48 hours in Peshwar and defeated them with the help of people and now Swat is a more peaceful place then provincial capital Peshawar.
“Over 1.5 million people were displaced from Swat and then within four months, they all were resettled in their own lands” he added.
Bashir Bilour said Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon him) was a preacher of peace and he directed his followers to resolve disputes through talks, not through violence and wars.
ANP leader urged young Ulema to play their role for peace and tranquility through their sermons and transform Pakistan into welfare Islamic state as per principles taught by the holy Prophet.
Chairman Pakistan Baitul Maal Zamurd Khan while speaking at the Ulema Convention deplored that there was a wide gap between Pakistani Ulema and Pakistani people and called for bridging the gap between them for restoration of peace in the country and reposing trust in local Ulema.
He further said people in Pakistan were getting closer to Islam but unfortunately, they were becoming oblivious of humanity as there were thousands of orphans on the streets of Pakistan, who lost their parents in terrorist incidents but nobody was there to take care of them.
Praising the country’s Madaris and religious seminaries, he termed them the biggest NGO network in the world, saying they were providing quality religious education and other facilities to children who could not afford the modern education at reputed educational institutes.
On the occasion, he urged the Madaris and their managements to include modern education and diversify their curricula so that passing out graduates of local Madaris could compete in the country and abroad and feel no hesitation in dealing with people from different walks of life.
He also apprised the convention that his organization, Pakistan Baitul Maal was providing living and education facilities to some 3000 orphans and sought the Ulema’s support in their up bringing as per Islamic teachings.
Former Federal Secretary Religious Affairs Shaukat Hayyat Durrani praised the Majlis Saut-ul-Islam for holding peace convention, preaching peace when Ulema are being associated with spreading violence, hatred and sectarianism and expressed the hope that convention would convey a positive message about Pakistani Ulema.
On the occasion, he suggested that a research and development department should be established by Majlis Saut-ul-Islam to apprise people of achievements and contribution of Ulema and Madaris in the progress and prosperity of Pakistani people.  
The second session of the convention was also addressed by the Vice President International Islamic University, Islamabad Sahibzada Sajidur Rehman, Chairman Majlis Saut-ul-Islam Mufti Abu Huraira Mohiuddin, Maulana Umair, Hafiz Samiullah Fraz, Maulana Abdul Ghani, Dr. Syed Aziz-ur-Rehman, and others.
The Ulema Peace Convention will continue till Wednesday here in Islamabad and its remaining sessions are expected to be addressed by senior Ulema and federal ministers.
The convention was earlier inaugurated on Monday morning by the President Azad Jammu Kashmir Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan.
Ends