The government has tasked the pro-establishment clerics with presenting a moderate picture of Islam without jihad to counter the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), militant outfits and extremist groups.
| I'm not convinced they actually exist in Pakland, but go on... |
âThe government has tasked the pro-establishment ulema and mashaikh (clerics) to help eliminate jihadi culture from society,â sources told Daily Times. The sources said that according to the new strategy designed by President General Pervez Musharrafâs close aides, the government wanted to form a parallel religious force against the âorthodox and extremist elementsâ.
| I hope they're well-armed. And I have a hard time conceiving of moderate bully boys... |
âPresident Musharraf now wants to dispel the impression that Pakistani seminaries are producing militants,â the sources said. Maulana Izhar Shah Bukhari, who attended the recently held Ulema Mashaikh Convention with President Musharraf, told Daily Times that the president wanted to mitigate the mounting international pressure regarding the religious parties. âThe world, especially the US, is now pressuring Pakistan to introduce madrassa reforms to stop the jihadi culture,â Mr Bukahri quoted the president as saying. He said that the president also approved a proposal to form a board of Islamic scholars to end religious extremism from Pakistan by introducing seminary reforms. He also said that the speakers were interviewed before they spoke at the convention. Sources said that the speakers were also directed by the government that they should speak in the presidentâs favour and his anti-extremist polices and also support his modern vision of Islam. He said that those who agreed were allowed to speak.
| Perv is usually more subtle than that... |
Sources said that the government had tasked Haji Hanif Tayyab, the coordinator of the convention, to direct pro-government clerics. âThe government announced seminary reforms and formed the madrassa education board in 2001, but it failed to introduce any education reforms,â the sources said. |