Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has slammed the political leadership that succeeded religious scholars, accusing them of promoting division and perpetuating bloodshed in Pakistan.
Addressing a gathering in Multan, Rehman said that in the era when the Muslim leadership of the subcontinent was in the hands of scholars, there was harmony and unity among the communities.
“Show me an example from the time of our elders where sectarian conflicts arose,” he said.
Rehman accused modern politics of breeding hatred, unrest and factionalism. He claimed that JUI is facing persecution for promoting peace instead of fomenting strife.
“We have not abandoned our identity as Sunnis, Hanafis or Deobandis, but our focus remains on uniting the nation and speaking for humanity,” he added.
He also condemned the commercialization of sectarian identities, saying, “Even Deobandism has become a trade now. This divisive approach was never part of the teachings of our elders.”
Affirming JUI’s commitment to inclusiveness, Rehman stated that his speech in Parliament represents all schools in the Muslim community.
