My heart aches to see resources being siphoned off: Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri

PAT Chairman Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri has said that when he sees the national resources being siphoned off and squandered away in the form of corruption and luxuries of the elite, his heart aches. He said that those depriving the youth and the students of education are not only the culprits of people but also of Allah and His Prophet (SAW). He said that resources of the people should be spent on their well-being, education and resolution of their problems. He, however, added in the same breath that it is possible only when the political and legal institutions responsible for policy-making and public service delivery are free of corruption. He reiterated that he would not rest till he takes his political, constitutional and legal struggle to its logical end. He asked the youth to rise to the challenge and become ambassadors of peace.

Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri expressed these views while addressing a training session of the teachers and students of various colleges and universities here in the central secretariat in Lahore on July 31. President of MQI Supreme Council Dr Hassan Mohi-ud-Din Qadri, Dr Khan Muhammad, and Dr Mumtaz-ul-Hassan Baavri were also present on the occasion. He said that Islam is all about acquisition of knowledge, movement of knowledge and promotion of knowledge. He asked the students to make the reading of Islamic curriculum on peace and counter-terrorism the part of their study and thinking. He said that intellectual and ideological extremism is the biggest hurdle in the way of establishment of a moderate society. He said that violence and chaos are extending their tentacles due to vast disconnect between the rulers’ priorities and ground realities and people’s aspirations.

The PAT chief said that Islam has conferred equal rights on all human beings without any discrimination. He said that all humans are equal in the eyes of Islam. However, a scholar has been given preference on the ignorant. He impressed upon the students the need to dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to acquisition of knowledge, adding that doing so is the command of the Holy Quran and the holy Prophet (SAW). He said that the youth are the hope of Pakistan and they should stay away from extremism and conservatism.

“You should acquire knowledge for sake of Allah and use it for Him as well. Allah Almighty and His Prophet (SAW) never took pride on worldly pursuits and material things. The youth should make their character, faith and good deeds as their power, he concluded.

Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri gave away a cash prize of Rs. 100,000 each for Dr Mumtaz-ul-Hassan Baavri and Dr Shabbir Ahmad Jami on doing PhD.