Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has criticized the political leaders who succeeded the religious scholars, accusing them of fomenting divisions and perpetuating bloodshed in Pakistan.
Speaking at a meeting in Multan, Rehman said that during the time 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 when sectarian conflicts occurred,” he said.
Rehman accused modern politics of generating hatred, unrest and factionalism. He alleged that JUI faces persecution for promoting peace instead of instigating disputes.
“We have not abandoned our identity as Sunnis, Hanafis or Deobandis, but our goal remains to unite the nation and speak for humanity,” he added.
He also condemned the commercialization of sectarian identities, saying: “Even Deobandism has now become a trade. This divisive approach was never part of the teachings of our elders.”
Rehman reaffirmed JUI’s commitment to inclusivity and stated that its speeches in Parliament represent all schools of thought within the Muslim community.
