Report by Syed Farzand Ali
Chairman of the Pakistan Ulema Council and coordinator of the Prime Minister’s Paigham-e-Pakistan Committee, Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi, has said that countries which once linked Pakistan with terrorism are now calling Islamabad a center of peace.
He made these remarks during a press conference held at the Markaz Khatm-e-Nabuwwat Harbanspura in Lahore, where a large number of religious scholars were also present.
Ashrafi stated that special programs related to “Maarka-e-Haq” (Battle of Truth) were organized in mosques and religious seminaries across the country.
Discussing regional tensions and alleged aggression against Iran, he said Pakistan’s position on the issue remains clear and warned that the martyrdom of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei would be unacceptable.
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He further claimed that even US President Donald Trump had acknowledged in a recent statement that Pakistan played a role in helping stop the war.
According to Ashrafi, Pakistan has earned greater international respect and strategic importance following recent regional developments.
Ashrafi also alleged that conspiracies against Pakistan continue to originate from Afghan territory and referred to an attack targeting religious figure Maulana Idris.
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He expressed sorrow over recent terrorist incidents and extended condolences to the families of victims on behalf of the National Paigham-e-Pakistan Committee.
“The state’s positive initiatives should be appreciated, while wrong decisions should also be criticized,” he said.
The religious leader criticized both the federal and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governments for not sending representatives to funeral prayers of victims killed in recent terrorist attacks in Bannu.
Ashrafi urged Prime Ministerial authorities to establish a policy ensuring senior government officials attend funerals of martyrs across the country.
He also appealed to the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to take the deteriorating security situation seriously, saying that casualties are being reported daily in the province.
Ashrafi announced that a delegation from the National Paigham-e-Pakistan Committee would soon visit Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan to assess the security situation and engage with local communities.
On relations with India, he reiterated that meaningful dialogue cannot succeed without addressing the Kashmir issue.
“All roads to negotiations pass through Kashmir,” he said, emphasizing that ignoring the dispute would prevent any serious peace process from succeeding.
Ashrafi also expressed concern over increasing unethical behavior on social media platforms.
He warned that those promoting a culture of disrespect and abusive language online are now beginning to face the consequences of the environment they helped create.
Analysts say Ashrafi’s remarks reflect growing domestic debate in Pakistan over national security, regional diplomacy, religious influence and the country’s international image amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
