Is it really possible?

(National Paigham-e-Aman Ulema and Mashaikh Conference, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa)

By Mufti Ubaid-ur-Rehman, Bajaur

Is it really possible? This was the question repeatedly heard across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa before the convening of the National Paigham-e-Aman Ulema and Mashaikh Conference. Many believed that, given the province’s prevailing security situation, law and order challenges, and the atmosphere of fear and uncertainty, organising such a conference would not be possible. However, the National Paigham-e-Aman Committee, Government of Pakistan, disproved this perception through its determination, well-planned strategy, and sustained engagement with all relevant stakeholders.
Prior to the conference, continuous consultations and contacts were maintained with religious scholars, seminaries, mosques, spiritual leaders (Mashaikh), religious circles, various religious organisations, and all boards representing religious seminaries across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. As a result of these efforts, all schools of thought, leaders of all faith communities, and every board of religious seminaries extended their full cooperation for this national cause. That spirit of cooperation ultimately culminated in a historic gathering on the day of the conference.
According to the organisers of the National Paigham-e-Aman Committee, the number of participants who attended the conference was nearly twice the expected attendance. The most remarkable feature of this gathering was that representatives of all schools of thought, all faith communities, all boards of religious seminaries, and religious and politico-religious organisations assembled under one roof. They were united in a single message: that upholding the values of Islam, safeguarding Pakistan’s security and stability, and establishing lasting peace in the country are collective responsibilities shared by all.
During the conference, members of the National Paigham-e-Aman Committee, particularly Maulana Mufti Abdul Rahim, Mufti Muhammad Karim Khan, Mufti Muhammad Yousaf Kashmiri, Dr. Asif Mir, Allama Syed Ziaullah Shah Bukhari, Maulana Zubair Faheem, Maulana Zahid Mansoor, Allama Arif Wahidi, along with other senior religious scholars of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, delivered comprehensive, well-reasoned and impactful addresses. Their speeches focused on Paigham-e-Pakistan, the teachings of the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah, the Constitution of Pakistan, national unity, terrorism, extremism, sectarianism, inter-sect and interfaith harmony, and the rejection of hate-based ideologies.
The speakers emphasised that the challenges confronting Pakistan can only be overcome by adhering to the teachings of the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah, the Constitution of Pakistan, and the unanimous national narrative embodied in Paigham-e-Pakistan. The collective outcome of these addresses emerged as a strong, clear and coherent national narrative that not only provides guidance to the nation in confronting terrorism and extremism, but also offers an effective and practical roadmap for promoting peace, stability, national unity, and inter-sect and interfaith harmony in the years ahead.
The position that received the greatest support and endorsement during the conference was the collective resolve to work jointly for the establishment of peace and security, the supremacy of the rule of law, national unity, and the complete eradication of terrorism and extremism in the light of the Constitution of Pakistan and Paigham-e-Pakistan.
In his address, Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi, Coordinator of the National Paigham-e-Aman Committee, presented a comprehensive overview of the historical significance of the Constitution of Pakistan, its Islamic character, and the invaluable contributions of the eminent religious scholars, constitutional experts and Founding Fathers of Pakistan who were instrumental in its formulation. He explained that the Constitution of Pakistan is founded upon the supremacy of the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah, Islamic principles, democratic values and national consensus, while Paigham-e-Pakistan is the practical manifestation of this constitutional and Islamic vision. It unequivocally rejects, on both religious and legal grounds, terrorism, extremism, sectarianism, religious hatred, and every form of armed action against the State of Pakistan.
Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi further emphasised that the Constitution of Pakistan and Paigham-e-Pakistan are complementary to one another. The Constitution provides the legal and constitutional foundation of the State, whereas Paigham-e-Pakistan offers its religious, intellectual and ethical interpretation. Therefore, adherence to both documents is indispensable for promoting peace, tolerance, inter-sect harmony, interfaith respect, the rule of law and national stability in Pakistan.
By the conclusion of the conference, it had become even more evident that bringing together all schools of thought, all faith communities, all boards of religious seminaries and representatives of various religious and politico-religious organisations on a single platform in a sensitive province such as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was, in itself, a historic achievement.
The conference demonstrated that Pakistan’s religious scholars and spiritual leaders stand united against terrorism, extremism, sectarianism and hatred, and are committed to seeing the country progress on the path of peace, stability and development in the light of the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah, the Constitution of Pakistan and Paigham-e-Pakistan.
The Peshawar conference was not merely a gathering; it was a powerful national message that when intentions are sincere, the objective is national, guidance is drawn from the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah, the foundation rests upon the Constitution of Pakistan, and the direction is shaped by Paigham-e-Pakistan, every form of fear, mistrust and discord can be overcome.
Through this conference, the National Paigham-e-Aman Committee demonstrated that Pakistan’s religious community can unite in support of peace, moderation, national cohesion, constitutional supremacy and unity. It further reaffirmed that this unity is the strongest guarantee of a peaceful, stable and prosperous future for Pakistan.