Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri Rejects "Fatwa" calling for Jihad

Rejecting the "Fatwa" calling for Jihad by some 30 scholars, the chairman of Pakistan Awami Tehreek Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri said that in the prevailing circumstances there was no solid religious ground for such a call.

Speaking at Meet the Press Programme of Rawalpindi Islamabad Press Club, Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri welcomed Pakistan's support to international war against terrorism and stressed the need for rooting out the real causes of terrorism the world over.

Flanked by Senior Vice-Chairman of PAT Agha Murtaza Poya and Provincial chief of the party Syed Khalilur Rehman, Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri said that the Ummah should define terrorism in the light of Islam and present a formula to check all sorts of terrorism to the United Nations. He said that the state terrorism in occupied Kashmir and Palestine should also be included in the present international drive against terrorism.

To a question he said that Osama bin Laden should be handed over to the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) or European Council or any state on which all parties agree so that he could be given fair chance of free and impartial trial against terrorism charges of levelled against him.

He also proposed formation of broad-based government in Afghanistan for the better future of Afghan people and asked Taliban to be flexible in this regard.

Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri said that had the people of Palestine and Occupied Kashmir given justice as per the United Nations Resolutions the recent acts of state terrorism in United States could have been averted. He further said that when the weak and oppressed nations were not given justice by the international body they got involved in these acts of state terrorism.

Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri further said that Pakistan and the Muslim Ummah should further the agenda of curbing terrorism at international level and also promote the cause of oppressed nations including the people of Kashmir and Palestine.

Terming the decision of Pakistan regarding joining the international war against terrorism Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri said that on the one hand this decision had saved Pakistan from international isolation while on the other hand Pakistan could plead the case of Taliban well remaining with the world community.

He said that Pakistan should play its role in defusing the tension in the region and saving it from impending massive devastations.

Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri said that the term Jihad was being misused by certain people and people involved in sectarian terrorism in the country were also portraying their acts as Jihad. He further said that Ulema should differentiate Jihad from terrorism.

To a question Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri said that in present circumstances there were no solid reasons of declaring Jihad on the call of Osama bin Laden or Taliban. He added that certain elements in the country were playing with the religious sentiments of the general public by giving false "Fatwas" of Jihad and asked the people not to play in the hands of such elements.

To another question Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri said that there was a clear difference between Jihad and anarchy and the training camps for Jihad should not be used for fanning sectarian hatred.

To a question Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri said that why is it that those who were giving "Fatwas of Jihad against America were not giving similar "Fatwas" against Saudi Arabia for terminating diplomatic relations with Afghanistan.

Source: The Daily Nation Pakistan

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