The Punjab Home Department continued its series of meetings with prominent religious scholars from various schools of thought on Monday. Provincial Health Minister and Chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Law and Order, Khawaja Salman Rafique, met with a delegation from Wafaq-ul-Madaris Al-Shia Pakistan at the Home Department.
The delegation was led by Dr. Muhammad Hussain Akbar, head of Idara Minhaj-ul-Hussain, and included Central Secretary General Allama Muhammad Afzal Haidri, Vice President Allama Syed Mureed Hussain Naqvi, Muhammad Ghulam Baqar Ghallu, Lal Hussain Touheedi, Chief Administrator of Idara Minhaj-ul-Hussain Allama Muhammad Sibtain Akbar, Allama Syed Mohsin Ali Shah, Qari Syed Azkaar Hussain Naqvi, and Maulana Syed Mustansar Abbas Kazmi.
The meeting was attended by Secretary Home Punjab Dr. Ahmad Javed Qazi, Secretary Auqaf Syed Tahir Raza Bukhari, DIG Special Branch, Additional Secretary Internal Security Ehsan Jamali, CEO Punjab Charity Commission Colonel Shehzad Amir, and other officials.
Khawaja Salman Rafique welcomed the delegation and reiterated the Punjab government’s commitment to promoting interfaith harmony and unity among Muslims across the province. He acknowledged the challenges Pakistan has faced, particularly terrorism, and stressed that fostering unity and peace is essential for the country’s progress. He emphasized that Pakistan’s development is rooted in a prosperous and peaceful state.
“Islam is a religion of peace, tolerance, brotherhood, and unity,” said Rafique, noting that all institutions and stakeholders must work together for the nation’s progress. He assured the scholars that the state opposes violence and values the contributions of respected scholars who uphold the teachings of the Holy Quran and Sunnah.
“We will continue to seek guidance from the ulema based on divine teachings and the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (PBUH),” he added.
Secretary Home Punjab, Dr. Ahmad Javed Qazi, highlighted the important role of religious scholars in promoting peace and rejecting violence. He stressed that resolving the issues of scholars is a top priority of the Punjab government and that protecting the lives, property, and honor of citizens is the state’s fundamental responsibility. He also acknowledged the noble service of the ulema in educating people on the true essence of religion.
The delegation of religious scholars expressed their support for the government’s efforts to uphold peace and stability. They emphasized the need for calm and unity and presented recommendations for enhancing coordination between government institutions and the madrassa system.