ISLAMABAD, Oct 13: The Wafaqul Madaris Arabia Pakistan (WMAP) has condemned the terrorist attack on Malala Yousufzai, but advised individuals and institutions not to try to “cash in on her tragedy for their ulterior motives”.

It also condemned the Oct 11 drone attack on a religious seminary in Orakzai Agency which, according to the WMAP, killed 18 innocent people, including students of the seminary.

“Whether it is Malala Yousufzai, students of any other educational institution or a religious seminary, playing with their lives is highly condemnable and regrettable,” said the WMAP in a statement.

The WMAP is an independent body recognised by the government. Its spokesman Maulana Abdul Qudus told Dawn that his organisation controlled 16,500 religious seminaries with two million students all over the country.

“Malala is the daughter of this country and no individual or institution is allowed to use her tragedy for personal interests,” the statement said.

“Voice should also be raised against the killing of innocent people in drone strikes, sectarian attacks or any other savage act,” the statement said.

It said every innocent girl and boy or any citizen of the country should be given the same importance being accorded to Malala and asked people to avoid indulging in double standards.

The WMAP leaders, including Saleemullah Khan, Maulana Dr Abdur Razaq Sikandar, Maulana Hanif Jalandhari and Maulana Noorul Haq, said in the joint statement: “Islam does not allow attack on any innocent child and is against discrimination.”

They also took strong exception to a statement by MQM leader Altaf Hussain who has asked his party workers to collect details of ulema, zakirs, prayer leaders of mosques, Imambargahs and heads of madressahs and said no political party or non-political group or an individual had the right to collect particulars of mosques or religious seminaries. “No state within the state will be allowed.”

The statement said all mosques and religious institutions had been directed not to provide details to anyone.