Karachi, Dec. 16 (ANI): A fatwa issued by religious scholars has prohibited people from offering prayers behind any imam who endorses terrorism and suicide attacks on Muslims and mosques, and has declared doing so as ‘ haram’ (forbidden in Islam).

“Suicide bombings and terrorist attacks in Pakistan are haram. Offering namaz behind those religious leaders who support suicide bombings and terrorism in the country is also haram,” the decree stated.

The decree against the pro-terrorism clerics and religious party leaders came at an Ulema Convention which was held at the Jinnah Ground, under the aegis of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), The Daily Times reports.

During the convention, clerics urged unity among the various sects of Islam, saying that all sects should respect each other in accordance with the teachings of the Quran.

It may be noted that MQM chief Altaf Hussain had appealed to scholars to condemn pro-terrorism leaders in the country.

Earlier, top Pakistani cleric Allama Tahirul Qadri and chairman of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Chairman, Mufti Muneebur Rehman had issued a fatwa declaring suicide attacks and bomb blasts ‘un-Islamic’.

“Any armed struggle against an Islamic state fell in the domain of rebellion,” Qadri has said while issuing the fatwa, which was released in three languages.

Rehman had then said that Islam prohibits killing of innocent people, and that such barbaric acts could not be justified.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik, while welcoming the fatwa against extremist activities, termed it a ‘positive step’. (ANI)