Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has criticized political leaders who succeeded religious scholars, accusing them of fueling divisions and perpetuating bloodshed in Pakistan.
Speaking at a gathering in Multan, Rehman said that during the times when the Muslim rulers of the subcontinent were in the hands of scholars, there was harmony and unity among the communities.
“Show me an example of sectarian strife from the time of our elders,” he said.
Rehman accused modern politics of fueling hatred, unrest and factionalism. He alleged that JUI faced persecution because it promoted peace rather than inciting disputes.
“We have not abandoned our identity as Sunnis, Hanafis or Deobandis, but our goal remains to unite the nation and speak on behalf of humanity,” he added.
He also condemned the commercialization of sectarian identities, saying: “Even deobandism has now become a business. This divisive approach was never part of the teachings of our elders.
Rehman reaffirmed the JUI’s commitment to inclusiveness, saying its speeches in Parliament represent all schools of thought within the Muslim community.
