According to a statement, issued to Kashmir News Service (KNS), patron of MMU and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq could not attend the meeting due to his continued house detention since two-and-a-half years.

 

MMU said that the meeting was attended by the heads and representatives of religious, educational and milli organisations and associations which include Khurshid Ahmad Qanungo, Pirzada Moulvi Muhammad Sultan of Anjuman Tabligh-ul-Islam, Moulana Siraj-ud-Din of Jamiat-e-Hamdaniya, Khawaja Ghulam Hassan Safapuri of Kaarvaan Islamic International, Moulana Syed Waris Shah Bukhari, president of Markazi Raabta Aima Masaajid Jammu and Kashmir, renowned scholar Moulana Prof. Syed Muhammad Tayyab Kamli, Imam Hai Moulana Syed Ahmad Naqshbandi Khateeb and Imam Jama Masjid Srinagar, Moulvi Altaf Hussain Shah, Peer Rehmatullah of Bazm-e-Tawheed Ahle Hadeeth, Mufti Ghulam Rasool Samoon of Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid Srinagar, Moulana Nasrullah, Moulana Altaf Hussain and MMU Secretary M S Rehman Shams. These personalities also expressed their viewpoints during the meeting.

 

The statement reads that in light of the agreed agenda, the speakers at the meeting discussed the serious issue of drug epidemic in Kashmir Valley, and the growing trend of suicides, domestic violence, intolerance in children and youth and the recent shameful acid attack on a girl in Srinagar, all of which require attention.

 

Regarding drug menace members of the meeting expressed surprise and anguish that on one hand, authorities express great concern at this serious problem and claim control of drugs usage in Jammu and Kashmir but on the other hand they are issuing and renewing licenses to venders for the sale and availability of the “Um-ul-Khabaaith (mother of all evils)” – liquor and alcohol.

 

It reads that such measures are deeply resented by the Kashmiri society who will not accept it. “The meeting asked the authorities to immediately reverse this decision and stop issue of liquor licence in the valley.”

 

The meeting strongly emphasised a state-wide campaign under the auspices of Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulema for comprehensive reform and improvement of Kashmiri society. 

 

It was said that the meeting of the Majlis should be convened every month with due diligence so that the campaign for the betterment of society could be expedited by reviewing the situation on the ground.

 

Reacting to the continuous lockdown of the Central Jama Masjid Srinagar and the ban on peaceful religious, da'wah and social activities of Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir, the speakers said that today while the Dargah Hazratbal, Khanqah-e-Mu’ala, Astaan Aalia Chraar Sharif, Central Imambara Budgam and all other places have been opened for worship in view of the Me’raj-un-Nabi (SAW), Jama Masjid Srinagar should also be reopened and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq released.

 

It should be noted that the Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulema comprises the following organisations: Majlis Ulema Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid Srinagar, Darul Uloom Raheemiyah Bandipora, Darul Uloom Sopore, Mufti Azam's Muslim Personal Law Board, Anjuman Shariah Shiaan, Darul Uloom Qasmia, Darul Uloom Bilalia, Anjuman Nusrat-ul-Islam, Anjuman Mazharul Haq, Jamiat Aima Wa Ulema, Anjuman Imams Wa Mashaaikh Kashmir, Darul Uloom Naqshbandiyya, Darul Uloom Rasheediya, Ahlul Bayt Foundation, Anjuman- Tanzeem-ul-Makatib, Muhammadi Trust, Anjuman Anwar-ul-Islam, Karwaan-e-Khatam-Nabuvat and other contemporary religious, milli, social and educational associations and their leaders & representatives. (KNS)