Religious scholars meet Sri Lankan envoy over Sialkot lynching

ISLAMABAD, Dec 7 : Special Representative to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Interfaith Harmony and Middle East, Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi along with delegation of ulema from different schools of thought on Tuesday visited Sri Lankan High Commission and conveyed their condolences to express solidarity with the people of Sri Lanka over the tragic Sialkot incident.

The religious scholars after meeting with Sri Lankan High Commissioner Vice Admiral Mohan Wijewickrama and other senior officials of the Sri Lankan High Commission talked to media persons.

Speaking on the occasion, renowned religious scholar Mufti Taqi Usmani said the delegation conveyed their heartfelt sorrow over the barbaric incident to the Sri Lankan High Commissioner, victim’s family and the people of Sri Lanka.

“Pakistan and Sri Lanka are two friendly countries and this tragic incident is not only painful for Sri Lanka but also for all of us as a shared grief” he said.

Mufti Usmani said that due punishment would be given to the culprits involved in this heinous act of barbarism.

He expressed the hope that the government of Pakistan would also compensate the victim’s family.

On the occasion, Hafiz Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi said the followers of all religions and religious scholars in the country strongly condemned the lynching of the Sri Lankan factory manager.

He said all leaders of religious organisations expressed grief and condolence with the Sri Lankan High Commissioner and people of Sri Lanka.

“Those involved in the incident had not only brought bad name to the religion but the country as well,” he added.

Other Ulema and religious scholars were of the view that this was inhuman act and no one could support or justify it.

They also demanded of the government to give compensation to the victim’s family, adding that every Pakistani was in pain and shared these hours of grief with Sri Lankan brothers.

Addressing the media persons, Sri Lankan High Commissioner Vice Admiral Mohan Wijewickrama said it was tragic to see the brutal attack on Priyantha Diyawadana by extremist mob.

“However, we are happy that government of Pakistan has taken stringent action against the culprits involved in the incident to punish them,” the ambassador said. He said that already a number of culprits had been rounded up and were behind the bars.

“This incident will not affect bilateral ties between the two friendly countries,” he said and pointed that the relationship between the two countries dated back to the independence of Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

The high commissioner said, “We are very confident that this particular incident will be handled by the government and justice will be provided to the victim’s family and children.”

He thanked the delegation for expressing condolence with people of Sri Lanka and the victim’s family.

The tragic incident happened on Friday where some factory workers attacked the Sri Lankan manager, and killed him. Prime Minister, Imran Khan took a serious note of the tragedy and directed that no person responsible for the mauling be spared.

The police have arrested over 130 people and identified the main perpetrators, who will be tried under the Anti Terrorism Act.

The Ulema delegation comprised of SAPM Interfaith Harmony and Middle East and Chairman Pakistan Ulema Council Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi, Chairman Milli Yakjehti Council Maulana Abdul Khair Zubai , Mir Asif Akbar Minhaj-ul-Quran, Maulana Raghib Naeemi Jamia Naeemia Lahore, Pir Khalid Sultan Chairman Jammat-us-Salikheen, Custodian of Eidgah Sharif Pir Naqib-ur-Rehman, Custodian of Bashan Sharif Pir Ali Raza Bukhari, Pir Habib Ul Haq Jamia Rizvia Rawalpindi, ex Federal Minister Hamid Saeed Kazmi, Sahibzada Hassan Haseeb ur Rehman Member CII, Chairman CII Dr. Qibla Ayyaz, President WuM Al-Arabia Mufti Taqi Usman, Mufti Abdul Rahim Jamia-tur-Rasheed Karachi, Qari Hanib Jalandhri Secretary General WUM Al-Arabia, Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad Chairman Ruet e Hilal, Dr. Habib ur Rehman Rabita tul-Madaris Al-Islamia, Maulana Tayab Tahir Chief Jammat e Ishaat-e-Tauheed-wa-Sunnah, Maulana Zahid ur Rashidi Secretary General Pakistan Shariat Council, Maulana Anwar-ul-Haq Haqaani President WuM Al-Arabia, KP, Allama Amin Shaheedi Chairman Ummat-e-Wahida, Allama Arif Wahidi Vice President Shia Ulema Council, Allama Afzal Haideri Secretary General WUM Al-Shia, Nasir Abbas Sherazi Secretary Majlis Wahdat-ul-Muslimeen, Senator Sajid Mir President WuM Al-Salafia and Moulana Muhammad Salafi President WuM Al-Salafia Sindh.