Maulana Tahir Ashrafi has been appointed as Special Representative of the Prime Minister for Religious Harmony on Wednesday according to a notification issued by the PM Secretariat.
According to a notification issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, Maulana Tahir Ashrafi, head of the Pakistan Ulema Council, has been honorably appointed as the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for Religious Harmony.
Maulana Ashrafi a strong proponent of religious harmony in Pakistan
The notification stated, “The prime minister has been pleased to appoint Maulana Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi as Special Representative of the Prime Minister on Religious Harmony, with immediate effect. The appointment of Maulana Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi shall be in honorary capacity.”
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Maulana Ashrafi is popular for rebuking and castigating social injustices and is a strong proponent for ending sectarian rifts and unrest within the country. He is also the chairman of the Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) and president of the Muttahida Ulema Board.
Maulana Ashrafi has also supported the construction of a Hindu temple in Islamabad, a highly controversial topic which caused unrest in the nation. He was one of the first Maulana’s to call for easing the sectarian tensions that spiked in the month of Muharram.
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Ashrafi has also been a member of the Council of Islamic Ideology from 2012 till 2015 and advisor to home department of the Punjab government regarding religious and sectarian harmony from 2000 to 2007.
Social media reacts to the appointment for religious harmony
The appointment of Maulana Tahir Ashrafi as special representative to the PM for religious harmony was met with mixed reactions as many took to social media to express their stance and viewpoint on the appointment.
Maulana Tahir Ashrafi appointed as PM’s special representative.
Good ho Gaya! @mubasherlucman pic.twitter.com/JKrCvS9hZi
— Anum Mughees (@AnumMughees) September 30, 2020
https://twitter.com/httpirt/status/1310962460053188609
It started with IK removing atif mian from the economic advisory council and ended with IK hiring Maulana Tahir Ashrafi as an advisor.
— m (@naheinyaar) September 29, 2020
Many are accusing Maulana Ashrafi for being a regular consumer of alcohol, a bigot, and not being the right person for such an esteemed post. Many hold that the Maulana is not the suitable choice to promote religious harmony within the state.
Everyone knows that Maulana Tahir Ashrafi is a bigot and drunkard.
— m (@naheinyaar) September 29, 2020
This is the same Maulana Tahir Ashrafi who appeared on national television under the influence of Alcohol! We didn’t vote for this Pakistan, Khan sahb! @ImranKhanPTI https://t.co/UJUB4qzndN
— Abdullah (@AYK_175) September 30, 2020
https://twitter.com/ubairkhann/status/1311176530702274560
GVS News Desk