ISLAMABAD: Key to solution to the growing problem of sectarian intolerance lies with religious scholars.

This was said by Maulana Hafiz Mohammad Tahir Ashrafi, chairman of the Pakistan Ulema Council and a member of the Council of Islamic Ideology. He said the council had prepared a 14-point code of conduct for religious organisations to curb sectarian violence. He claimed that representatives of all religions and sects had approved the code which would be discussed in the next meeting of the council.

Talking to APP on Sunday, Maulana Ashrafi said that the proposed code of conduct stressed the need for regular seminars and sermons during Friday prayers for promoting sectarian harmony and peace. It calls upon religious parties to avoid violence in the name of religion.

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The code says that no sect can be termed infidel.

It denounces any attempt to amend blasphemy laws and suggests preventing any speech and literature which are objected to by other sects or incite hatred. It says that recordings of hate speeches and disseminating them through any medium should be banned.

Any slogan inciting hatred or instigating violence should be avoided by religious groups and all sects should respect places of worship and traditional norms of others, the code of conduct says.

Published in Dawn, November 30th, 2015