Punjab organises Ulema and Mashaikh conference to promote peace, counter extremism

LAHORE, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th May, 2026) The Punjab Home Department organized an Ulema and Mashaikh Conference on Sunday aimed at promoting peace, countering extremism and fostering interfaith harmony, with Provincial Minister and Chairman Cabinet Committee on Law and Order Khawaja Salman Rafique presiding over the event.

Addressing the conference, Khawaja Salman Rafique said peace had become a basic necessity not only for Pakistan but for the entire world. He said modern societies were facing dangerous trends including intellectual chaos, intolerance, religious extremism and social division despite advancements in information and technology.

He emphasized that scholars and religious leaders had a greater responsibility in such circumstances, adding that history proved that religious institutions always played a role in reform, unity and guidance during difficult times.

The provincial minister said hateful narratives were poisonous for the peace and stability of any society and warned that hatred was spreading rapidly through social media, irresponsible speech, false information and inflammatory statements. He expressed concern that the younger generation was becoming an easy target for extremism through emotional slogans, religious misinterpretations and negative propaganda.

Khawaja Salman Rafique said islam teaches mercy, tolerance and respect despite differences, adding that the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) won hearts through wisdom, gentleness and good manners. He stressed the need to use mosques, madrasas, media and educational institutions for the promotion of positive narratives.

He said differences of opinion among various schools of thought had always existed in Islamic history, but mutual respect and brotherhood remained dominant.

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He regretted that some elements were now trying to turn differences into hostility and conflict.

The minister said peaceful coexistence was the foundation of a civilized society and cited the State of Madina as an example where people of different tribes and religions lived together with justice and peace. He added that minorities in Pakistan were equal citizens whose protection was both a constitutional and Islamic responsibility.

He further stated that sustainable peace could not be achieved through law enforcement agencies alone, but required social awareness, moral training and collective responsibility from scholars, teachers, media, parents and youth.

Punjab Home Secretary Dr. Ahmed Javed Qazi presented the joint declaration of the conference and said the Punjab government was spreading the message of eliminating extremism and promoting tolerance. He said the participants fully supported the 22 points of the Paigham-e-Pakistan narrative and agreed that irresponsible use of social media could not be allowed.

Secretary Auqaf Dr. Ehsan Bhutta also attended the special session organized under the platform of the Home Department’s Center of Excellence for Counter Extremism. Ulema, Mashaikhs, educationists and senior officials of security agencies presented recommendations for peaceful coexistence and social harmony.

The conference was attended by National Coordinator NACTA Jawad Ahmed Dogar, Chairman National Rehmatul-lil-Aalamin and Khatam-un-Nabiyyin Authority Dr. Khurshid Nadeem, Vice Chancellor Narowal University Dr. Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, Dr. Taha Qureshi, Syed Tahir Raza Bukhari, Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad, Allama Dr. Ziaullah Bukhari, Allama Dr. Mir Asif Qadri, Allama Rai Zafar Ali, Bishop Nadeem Kamran, Sardar Dr. Kalyan Singh, Pandit Bhagat Lal and others.