PUC Welcomes Doha Peace Talks, Urges End To Extremism

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Oct, 2025) Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) Chairman Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi has welcomed the successful outcome of the Doha peace talks with Afghanistan, terming it a positive and encouraging development.

He expressed hope that the agreement would be fully implemented and that Afghanistan’s soil would not be used against Pakistan.

Talking to media representatives at Jamia Masjid Kobra, New Samanabad, Lahore on Sunday, alongside prominent ulema and mashayikh, Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi said that religious and political extremism, lawlessness, and intolerance were major hurdles to the country’s development. He said that violent and takfiri attitudes must be eliminated for peace and stability to prevail.

He said that negotiations with Tehreek-e-Labbaik continued until the last moment, but unfortunately no resolution could be reached. He urged all religious leaders to ensure implementation of Paigham-e-Pakistan and called upon citizens to cooperate in eliminating material that spreads hatred, sectarianism, and violence.

Hafiz Ashrafi emphasized that takfiri fatwas and disrespect towards other sects were unacceptable, adding that the supremacy of the state, the Constitution, and the rule of law must be upheld.

“The culture of acting as both judge and executioner cannot continue,” he remarked.

Referring to the Palestinian issue, he said that Pakistan’s stance on Palestine had been clearly presented by Field Marshal General Hafiz Syed Asim Munir and the government. He described Israel as a terrorist and oppressor of Muslims, reiterating support for an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.

He said Pakistan had always stood by its Muslim brothers, adding that Afghanistan was a brotherly nation for which Pakistan had made great sacrifices, but it was also Pakistan’s right to seek accountability when necessary.

Maulana Makhdoom Manzoor Ahmad, Maulana Asim Makhdoom, Maulana Muhammad Aslam Siddiqui, Hafiz Muhammad Noman Hamid, Maulana Asadullah Farooq, Maulana Mubashir Rahimi, Maulana Qari Abdul Hakeem Athar, Qari Faisal Amin, and Maulana Muhammad Ashfaq Patafi were present on the occasion.