Pak clerics: No sect should be called ‘infidel’

Islamabad: Pakistani clerics on Friday agreed to stop calling different sects kafir (infidel). Leading scholars and religious figures agreed on protecting the rights of all religions and sects, in a new push for sectarian harmony in Pakistan.

At a Provincial Interfaith Peace Conference in Lahore organised by the World Council of Religions to promote harmony and brotherhood among different religions and Muslim sects members of ruling party, scholars, intellectuals and other participants unanimously passed a course of action to promote harmony in the country.

The WCR course of actions includes: “Rights of all Pakistanis are equal and must be respected; extremism, terrorism and killing in the name of faith are against the religion; no sect will be called Kafir except those that are declared in Constitution of Pakistan; extra-judicial killing of any Muslim and non-Muslim will not be allowed; loudspeakers will only be used for azaan and Arabic sermon.”

The clerics recommended complete ban on posting of provocative material on social media and arresting the violators.

“Respect will be giving to holy personalities and books of all religions and sects,” the resolution said.

Lawmaker Ramesh Kumar Vankwani said: “We stand by WCR in the struggle to promote sectarian harmony.”  He urged all sects to develo an environment of love and tolerance.