ISLAMABAD: Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) chief Maulana Muhammad Ahmad Ludhianvi has decried the resolution passed by the parliament on Yemen as “against the will of the people” and “a waste of time”.

“We have to give unconditional support to Saudi Arabia to save the honour of Ummul Momineen Hazrat Ayesha Siddiqa. We will not allow anyone to disrespect the Haramain Sharifain,” he declared at a rally staged by ASWJ outside the National Press Club on Sunday.

Maulana Ludhianvi, who had been leading the pro-Saudi rallies in the federal capital over the last week, announced that more such public meetings would be held in Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore before an all-party conference is called to finalise plans “save the Harmain Sharifain”.

“If our government does not take the decision, we will go to Saudi Arabia, just like Ameer Ansar Ul Ummah Fazal-ur-Rehman Khalil went to Afghanistan,” he said.

Maulana Ludhianvi said some elements were stirring up the Shia-Sunni schism to divert the attention of the Pakistanis away from Saudi Arabia.

However, when the participants of the ASWJ rally started chanting slogans against the parliamentarians, he stopped them. He said he will soon be rejoining the parliament so they should not criticise the lawmakers.

In his address to the rally, Maulana Fazal ur Rehman Khalil said Saudi Arabia has always supported Pakistan and now it is time Pakistan supported Saudi Arabia.

There is no difference between protecting “the Haramain or the Sheikhain” but there is a clash between ideologies, he said.

“Moreover, the war is not between two countries but it is a war against rebels,” he said.

“Those who want ceasefire in Yemen favour operations against Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan,” he added.

Leader of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) Maulana Abdul Rauf Farooqi said the whole nation is willing to defend Haramain Sharifain and that the defence line extended from the Saudi border to Haramain.

“We reject the resolution of Parliament as it cannot decide whether troops should be sent to Saudi Arabia. It is now the army’s decision to make,” he said.

Maulana Farooqi asked the army to dispatch troops “unconditionally and without further delay”. He also demanded for the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to be activated.

Another religious leader, Maulana Ashraf Ali, felt disappointed at the statements of political parties regarding Baitullah (holy Kaaba). “Our army and all our resources should be devoted to the Haramain Sharifain,” he said.

Pir Saifullah Khalid observed that although Allah has taken the responsibility to protect the Baitullah, “we have to prove how devoted we are to His house”.

Participants of the ASWJ rally gathered at Lal Masjid and marched to the National Press Club chanting slogans. Strict security measures were taken by the police and roads leading to the Press Club were closed to traffic.

Published in Dawn, April 13th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play