Sixteen senior Islamic scholars from the Shia and Sunni sects in the Pakistani city of Karachi issued a unanimous fatwa condemning terrorism and extremism, and prohibiting attacks on the army and police forces that defend people’s rights and are responsible for their protection.
The issuance of the fatwa comes two days after the head of the banned Pakistani Taliban movement, Noor Wali Mehsud, announced in a video message declaring war on anyone who opposes the movement and considers its jihad a mistake.
Religious scholars said in a joint statement followed by Shia Waves News Agency, “Declaring war on the police and security forces defending Muslims is forbidden by Sharia and encourages the spread of terrorism and extremism that everyone rejects.”
The fatwa issued by senior scholars stated that “police and military personnel who sacrifice their lives in defense of the homeland and its people are martyrs in the eyes of the Almighty.”
The scholars who signed the fatwa indicated that “provoking any kind of strife, rioting, incitement to violence and spreading chaos on regional, sectarian or ethnic grounds is not permissible and is considered forbidden by Sharia.”
They affirmed that “anyone who declares jihad against the army and the police in the country deserves punishment, and is considered a rebellion against the constitution and laws.”
