[DAWN] Jamaat-e-Islami...
The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka
The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an
independentbranch there since 1975. It maintains close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores...
leaders on Wednesday announced that their party would make every effort for the protection of seminaries as they had nothing to do with terrorism and religious extremism.
The announcement was made during the 'Ittehad-e-Ummat Conference' organised here at the Madrassa Ahiayul Uloom.
JI provincial general secretary Shabbir Ahmad Khan said his party condemned the attempts to link seminaries with terrorism and religious extremism in the country.
"Linking seminaries with terrorism is unfair as Islam preaches love and brotherhood and seminaries act accordingly," he said.
The JI leader said the false propaganda against seminaries was part of the agenda of secular elements to malign Islam but it won't succeed. He said Islam and seminaries had nothing to do with terrorism and religious extremism and instead, the two always played a tremendous role in promoting religious and sectarian harmony and tolerance in society.
Shabbir said his party was not opposed to the registration of seminaries by the government and wanted the government to identify seminaries involved in terrorist activities if there were any.
"If the government begins registration of seminaries, we will support it but the government has no interest in doing so," he said.
The JI leader said his party would offer strong resistance if the government banned or tried to ban seminaries.