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CM Punjab Shahbaz asks Taliban not to attack Punjab

LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif, Raghib Hussain Naeemi, Fazal Karim, Maulana Mujeeb-ur-Rehman and others sitting on the stage during   Related News     Seven low-intensity blasts keep police on their toes March 08 attack: Punjabi Taliban avenge Qari Zafar’s death   More on this   View All Twin blasts in Lahore's fruit market injure 23 Seven low-intensity blasts keep police on their toes March 08 attack: Punjabi Taliban avenge Qari Zafar’s death Lahore blast kills 11, injures 45 Mian Channu blast death toll rises to 20 Four including Dr Sarfraz martyred in Lahore blast Two including a police man killed, four injured in Rescue 15 suicide

LAHORE: Speaking at the annual seminar in the memory of Maulana Mufti Muhammad Hussain Naeemi at Jamia Naeemia, CM Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Sunday asked the Taliban not to target the Punjab as the provincial government would not take dictation from outsiders.

He said that extremism and terrorism were the consequences of wrong policies of a dictator, General Pervez Musharraf, for which the country was paying a heavy price. He said the dictator enacted a bloodbath of innocent Muslims at the behest of others only to prolong his rule. He asked the Taliban not to target the Punjab as his government would not take dictation from outsiders.

He said that Ulema would have to play a leading role in promotion of unity, harmony and brotherhood in the country as well as to finding a way out of the existing crises. He said that there was a need for collectiveefforts to counter the challenges faced by the country.

He said the PML-N strongly opposed an accountability bill aimed at concealing corruption. He said that though two years had passed, parliament had not been able to abolish the 17th Amendment and promises had not been honoured. He said parliament, however, should be given a chance to work.

The CM said PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif had also advised President Asif Ali Zardari not to address the joint session of parliament until the 17th amendment was scrapped.

Lauding the intellectual and religious services of Mufti Muhammad Hussain Naeemi, the CM said that he was an institution unto himself besides being an epitome of honesty and truth who dedicated all his energies for the service of Islam and propagation of its teachings. He said that Mufti Naeemi was a strong advocate of “Ittehad-e-Bainul Muslimeen” and strived for promotion of unity and cohesion between followers of all schools of thought throughout his life. He said that Shaheed Dr Sarfraz Hussain Naeemi also followed in the footsteps of his father and dedicated his life to forward his mission. He said that no effort would be spared for apprehending murderers of Dr Sarfraz.

Earlier, Mohtamim Jamia Naeemia, Dr Raghib Hussain Naeemi, in his welcome address highlighted the religious services of the institution. Meanwhile, various resolutions were also passed unanimously during the seminar.

The resolutions condemning the subversive acts perpetrated by banned religious outfits in Faisalabad and Dera Ismail Khan on Eid Miladun Nabi as well as prejudiced remarks of DPO Okara on Eid Miladun Nabi were passed unanimously.

Similarly, a resolution condemning the publication of blasphemous caricatures, banning the construction of mosques’ minarets and wearing of scarves by Muslim women in the European countries were also passed.

A resolution appreciating the federal government’s decision to award Tamgha-e-Shujaat to Dr Sarfraz Naeemi Shaheed and financial assistance given to the victims of June 12 tragedy at Jamia Naeemia was also passed.

End.