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Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) Emir Maulana Fazlur Rehman has said that since politics shifted from the hands of religious scholars to the hands of politicians, bloodshed and unrest have persisted.
He lamented that the religious political party faced backlash because it refused to incite division and conflict among the people.
Addressing a gathering in Multan, the cleric and politician said that since the reins of politics were handed over to non-religious leaders, chaos and divisions have followed.
“From the 19th century to the mid-20th century, when the leadership of Muslims in the subcontinent was in the hands of religious scholars, there was not a single case of conflict arising from sectarian issues like the differences between Deobandi and Barelvi,” he recalled. .
“There were no riots or infighting. Under his leadership, there was complete peace and unity in the Muslim Ummah,” he said.
He contrasted it with the current political landscape and stated: “Ever since politics fell into the hands of politicians after scholars, bloodshed and unrest have plagued us. This politics has generated hatred, discord and conflict.”
“We are criticized because we do not pit people against each other. We have never abandoned our identity as Sunnis, Hanafis or Deobandis, but we engage with the public to foster unity and humanity.”
“Others, however, have turned these identities into mere brands,” he said, lamenting how some religious groups have now resorted to insulting other sects and stirring up the scene, then calling it a great service. “This is not the path of our elders.”
