[DAWN] The Pakistain Ulema Council (PUC) has declared in unambiguous terms that murder of women or girls in the name of 'honour' is un-Islamic.The PUC issued a fatwa on Thursday which said such killings were generally devoid of any legal or Islamic justification. "These murders are akin to spreading mischief on Earth."
The decree was issued by the PUC's Darul Iftaa.
Hafiz Mohammad Tahir Ashrafi, the chairman of the PUC, presented a draft of the decree at a national conference here. The event was attended by diplomats, religious scholars and representatives of minority communities.
Hafiz Ashrafi said the murders were usually committed due to suspicion and the killers usually didn't have any witness to support their allegations.
The fatwa was issued on the basis that those killed were generally unmarried girls. "Unmarried girls cannot be murdered even if allegations against them are proven to be correct and there are witnesses against them," the PUC chairman said.
APP adds: A joint declaration adopted at the conference expressed sorrow over incidents of sectarian violence and attacks on places of worship of non-Moslems.
Addressing the conference, the Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Mohammad Yousuf, urged Learned Elders of Islam and the representatives of minority communities to forge a consensus on promoting tolerance in society.