LAHORE: Living nations never forget sacrifices of their martyrs. Children of Army Public School, Peshawar sacrificed their lives for future of the nation, said Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi, the Pakistan Ulema Council chairman. Addressing a seminar titled: “Role of Ulema and Religious Forces for Annihilation of Extremism and Terrorism’, Ashrafi asserted that sacrifices rendered by people of Pakistan for eradication of terrorism and extremism could not be neglected. “Elements killing innocent people are not only enemies of Islam and Pakistan, but also of humanity. Pakistan Ulema Council will continue its struggle for elimination of terrorism and extremism from Pakistan and Muslim world,” he said. Speaking at the seminar, clerics of different religious organisations and representatives of Pakistan Ulema Council including Maulana Abdul Kareem Nadeem, Maulana Abdul Hameed Watto, Qazi Matiullah Saeedi, Maulana Abdul Hameed Sabri, Hafiz Muhammad Amjad Muhawia, Maulana Saad Ullah Shafiq, Maulana Anwarul Haq Mujahid and Maulana Nauman Hashir stated that renowned clerics and scholars of Islam had unanimously issued decrees against terrorism, extremism and suicide blasts. “Elements murdering innocent people cannot be loyal to Muslims and Islam. Enemies of Islam and Muslims have been coining conspiracies to link extremism and terrorism with Islam. Teachings of Islam and Quran-o-Sunnah have categorically forbid extremist practices. The way people of Pakistan united after the APS terrorist attack was praiseworthy. Muslim Ummah needs this unity and resilience to contain extremism and terrorism,” he said. Pakistan Ulema Council Secretary General Maulana Abdul Hameed Watto stated that if the government had demonstrated seriousness to ensure implementation on National Action Plan, the situation might have been far better in Pakistan. “The government should have ensured implementation on National Action Plan in letter and spirit to contain extremism and terrorism from Pakistan,” he said. Pakistan Ulema Council Vice-Chairman Maulana Abdul Kareem Nadeem stated that Islamic Military Alliance was the centre of hope. “It should rid Muslim Ummah from menace of terrorism and extremism. Some world powers are patronising terrorists and extremist elements. Muslim Ummah has to get united to contain conspiracies of these conspiring elements,” they said. A resolution was also adopted at the seminar to pay homage to the sacrifices of the martyrs of APS Peshawar and to express solidarity with the families of these martyrs. Published in Daily Times, December 17th 2017.