At least 2,000 Pakistani religious scholars, representing different schools of thoughts, on Saturday issued a fatwa (religious decree) that declared suicide attacks, armed insurgency against a state and use of force in the name of imposing Shariah law (Islamic law) as forbidden in Islam.
Pakistani government officials meanwhile have said the unanimous decree is aimed at forming a united front against terrorism and extremism. This new development marks one of the unprecedented collective moves by Pakistani clerics against suicide attack and terrorism.
The religious decree comes after Pakistani madrasas have for years been accused of involvement in terrorism and brainwashing of insurgents.
Political party leaders and religious scholars called for unity and a unanimous narrative to counter terrorism in Pakistan at a ceremony announcing the 'Paigham-i-Pakistan' fatwa in Islamabad on Tuesday, Dawn News reported.
Pakistan’s President Mamnoon Hussain expressed hope that the decree issued by religious scholars would help address the challenges posed by terrorism, extremism and sectarianism.
Issuing a fatwa drafted by means of a consultative process is a step in the right direction, he said, adding that it would portray a "soft and positive image of Pakistan" and highlight Islam as a religion of peace, brotherhood, tolerance and accommodation.
“Pakistan Ulema Council has issued a decree on the terror activities and the Fatwa states that Pakistan is an Islamic state and that Islam is the religion of equality, justice and brotherhood. Islam has denounced terrorism, bloodshed and suicide attacks,” said the Pakistan president.
Afghanistan has always stressed the need for such a decree to be issued not only by Pakistan, but from a wider Islamic world.
The Afghan government also raised the topic with Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa during his journey to Kabul last year.
“Pakistani religious scholars have been used as tools by the politicians, we have witnessed such an issue over different occasions. Pakistan has taken this initiative to ease US pressure,” said political analyst Sayed Emal Ebad.
Pakistan’s infamous cleric Maulana Fazal-ur-Rahman who is an influential politician, powerful cleric, and the Secretary-General of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) was also among the scholars who issued the decree including the son of Maulana Sami ul-Haq who is known as the spiritual father of the Taliban.
In the past, some Pakistani scholars have legitimatized suicide attacks in Afghanistan.
"It is a matter of concern that after 70 years, the dream for Pakistan, the dignity and justice we had to provide the nation, were not realized. All of this is only possible when the ethos of a nation or group of people is apparent to them,” said Pakistani interior minister Ahsan Iqbal.
But he said that world powers who fought the Soviet Union are responsible for the ongoing conflict in the region.
“We have been fighting regional conflict, and the events we face today are not completely of our doing. To a great extent, the world powers who fought the Soviet Union are responsible," Iqbal said.
"But when the Soviet lost in Afghanistan, the world powers dusted off their hands and disappeared, leaving behind piles of weapons and the poorest segments of those societies," he said.
The decree by the Pakistani clerics comes at a time that Pakistan has been severely criticized by Afghanistan and the international community over its controversial role in the fight against terrorism.