Kabul, Jan. 17 (TNS): Afghan lawmakers on Wednesday welcomed an Islamic directive or fatwa issued by hundreds of Pakistani clerics forbidding suicide bombings as haram.
However, the Wolesi Jirga or lower house members said the fatwa came under US pressure on Pakistan over Islamabad’s role in the war against terrorism.
Pakistani Ulema’s Fatwa on labeling the suicide bombing unlawful but added the move came after external pressure on Islamabad to do more in fight against terrorism.
More than 1800 renowned Pakistani ulema had signed the fatwa declaring suicide attacks as haram in a book released by the Pakistani government at a ceremony in Islamabad on Tuesday.
Lawmaker Ghulam Farooq Majroh from western Herat province called the fatwa by Pakistani clerics as “a positive move” and claimed it came as a result of US pressure on Islamabad.
He hoped the fatwa would help reduce suicide bombings and terrorist attacks in Pakistan and Afghanistan. He asked scholars of other Muslim countries to issue similar decrees.
Habib Afghan, a Kuchi tribe representative, said the Pakistani Ulema had lately issued the fatwa against suicide bombings and terrorism. He said many precious lives could have been secured had the fitwa been issued some years back.
President Ashraf Ghani has said Islam belongs to all Muslims and Ulema’s fatwa against terrorism is not limited to a certain country or region.
It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan Army Chief Gen. Qamar Bajwa during his visit to Kabul assured President Ghani that Pakistani ulem would issue a fatwa against terrorism in Afghanistan, but Afghan officials say the pledge remains unfulfilled.
