It’s our social responsibility to protect minorities: Tahir Ashrafi

SARGODHA: Pakistan Ulema Council Chairman Maulana Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi on Saturday said that it is our social responsibility to protect the lives and properties of minorities. He made the comments during a conference on ‘Religious Harmony’ organised by the district Peace Committee.

He participated in the conference as the chief guest while Commissioner Muhammad Ajmal Bhatti, RPO Shariq Kamal Siddiqui, Deputy Commissioner Captain (Retired) Shoaib Ali, DPO Faisal Kamran, spokesperson for the Church of Pakistan Amael Khokhar, and former MPA Tahir Naveed Chaudhry were present along with members of the Christian community.  In addition, Scholars from different sects, professors and people from various walks of life also attended.

Addressing the conference, Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi said that Islam teaches love peace and respect for all religions. He said the Jaranwala violence was a sad incident and condemned it on behalf of ulema belonging to all schools of thought.

The accused of the Jaranwala incident have been arrested and they would face the law, he said and added, “Our society and religion do not allow punishing any individual without fulfilling legal requirements.” He said, “It is our social responsibility to protect the lives and properties of minorities”.