Daily Times

Clerics and scholars of different religious schools of thought have urged the public to make successful the drive for eradication of polio from Pakistan.

Pakistan Ulema Council, Darul Afta Pakistan, Wafaq-ul-Masajid Madaris-e-Pakistan and leading Ulemas-Mashaykh have already termed polio drops healthful with a categorical decree that there is nothing harmful or ‘haram’ ingredient in polio vaccination.

Addressing a press conference on Wednesday at Jamia Masajid Mahaz bin Jabal, Islamabad, Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi, Chairman Pakistan Ulema Council appealed to Ulemas and religious scholars of the country to play their respective role to make successful ongoing drive for eradication of polio from Pakistan. He also appealed to Ulemas and religious scholars to make special appeal to public in Friday sermons to administer polio drops for children under five years of age.

Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi, Chairman Pakistan Ulema Council was also flanked by Maulana Nauman Hashir, Maulana Abubakar Sabri, Maulana Tahir Aqeel Awan, Maulana Qasim Qasmi, Maulana Tahir Muslim, Maulana Naib Khan, Maulana Shahbaz Ahmed, Maulana Hafizur Rehman, Maulana Afzal Shah Husseini, Maulana Aseedur Rehman Saeed and Maulana Maulana Mubashar Raheemi on this occasion.

Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi also announced that Foundation Day of Pakistan Ulema Council is being observed from February 20-29 all over Pakistan adding that 5th International Message of Islam Conference will be held in Islamabad on 29th March 2020.

He also added that Nizam-e-Khilafat e Rashida Conferences will be held respectively on 1st March and 10th March in Gujranwala and Lahore. Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi also stated that polio is an fatal virus and parents having children under five years of age should ensure administration of polio drops to their children during ongoing polio vaccination drive. He also added that leading Ulema and religious scholars from all over Islamic World have issued decrees that there is nothing harmful inculcated in polio vaccine and it is not forbidden by any religious schools of thought. The parents who will not administer polio drops to their children under age of five years will be held accountable for physical abnormality of their children. He also announced that Ulema and Mashaykh will appeal to public in Friday sermons to administer polio drops to children during prevailing drive against eradication of polio from Pakistan.

Responding to a query, Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi stated that rising numbers of children diagnosed with polio and increasing prices of medicines all over Pakistan witnessed incapability and failure of the office bearers of Ministry of Health. Incapability on account of Special Advisor to Prime Minister on Health responsible for surging cases of polio in the country adding that Prime Minister Imran khan should assign responsibility of health to some competent and responsible representative. Responding to another question, Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi said that Pakistan is gaining importance all over the world adding that ongoing visit of UN Secretary General Antonio Guetres to Pakistan and his stance for Kashmir and Palestine is alike desire of each peace loving person. He also stated that Pakistan is important member of Muslim World and no one could down Pakistan’s role and image in comity of Muslim Ummah. Arab countries are like brother countries of Pakistan, said Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi adding that Pakistan and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are knotted in relations of belief and faith. Visit of any Muslim state head will not affect Pakistan’s relations with other Muslim countries. Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi also clarifies that prevailing operation in Saudi Arabia is not being made against Pakistanis but to identify illegal people residing in Saudi Arabia and in this connection, officials of Pakistan’s Foreign Office are in coordination with authorities of Saudi Arabia.

“Elements who aimed at targeting Pak-Saudi relations through baseless propaganda will fail once again.” Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi also announced that Ulema and Mashaykh condemned Quetta bomb blast, stating that enemies of Pakistan want to create instability and anarchy in the country through such cowardly acts. Ulema and Mashaykh of Pakistan are united to foil such coward acts of the enemies of Islam and Pakistan.