ISLAMABAD, Monday, June 23, 2025 (WNP): In a bid to ensure peace, sectarian harmony, and national unity during the sacred month of Muharram 1447 AH, a high-level consultative meeting of prominent religious scholars and spiritual leaders from Islamabad and Rawalpindi was held on Monday at the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony.
The meeting was chaired by Federal Minister Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, who emphasized the vital role of religious scholars in maintaining peace during Muharram, as witnessed in previous years.
Speaking to the participants, the minister said a comprehensive joint strategy has been formulated in consultation with Ulema and Mashaikh to promote sectarian tolerance, brotherhood, and inter-sect unity across the country. He stressed the importance of conducting similar coordination meetings at provincial and district levels to strengthen this approach nationwide.
“There is an urgent need for unity and consensus among scholars from all schools of thought to safeguard the spirit of inter-sect harmony and address the evolving national and global challenges,” the minister said.
Federal Minister Sardar Muhammad Yousaf announced a unified Code of Conduct, which includes the following key points: all religious schools of thought will make sincere efforts to foster love, tolerance, and mutual understanding; reverence will be maintained for the sacred personalities of all sects, avoiding any form of disrespect or derogatory remarks; scholars, preachers, and writers will adopt balance and restraint in their speeches and writings, refraining from any provocative content that may hurt others’ sentiments; sectarian disputes will be resolved through consultation, understanding, and serious dialogue; no derogatory remarks will be made from public platforms against opposing sects; full respect will be shown to the Mothers of the Believers (RA), Companions of the Prophet (RA), Ahl al-Bayt (RA), saints, Tabiun, and all elders of the Ummah. None will be subjected to criticism or insult; and any hateful or inflammatory material harming sectarian or interfaith harmony, especially on social media, should be reported through the following official platforms – FIA Cyber Crime, PTA Complaint Portal, Helpline: 0800-55055 and Police Helpline: 15; all religious scholars will remain united on national, religious, and public matters and Ulema and preachers are encouraged to highlight the sacrifices of the Kashmiri and Palestinian people in the context of Karbala and speak out against Israeli aggression and global injustices.
In addition, the federal government also appealed to provincial administrations to replicate such meetings at their respective levels to ensure an atmosphere of peace and harmony throughout the country during Muharram.
The meeting concluded with a unanimous resolve to uphold the sanctity of Muharram and safeguard inter-sectarian unity through collective efforts and responsible discourse.
