Zarb-i-Azb: Fatwa declares Pak's military operation 'a jihad'

Pakistan army's military operation Zarb-i-Azb has been declared a jihad by over 100 Ulema from various schools of thought.

According to Dawn, the decree [fatwa] was issued after a meeting of religious scholars, which was organized by the Sunni Ulema Board here on Sunday.

The decree referred Verse No 33 of Surah-i-Almaidah, which says: "Crushing of the attempts to disrupt peaceful atmosphere in a Muslim state is jihad," the report said.

It added that the country was meant to support the ongoing operation in North Waziristan Agency and the people who were opposed to it were rebellious according to Shariat.

It further said that the state had the right to deal rebels with an iron hand as the militants had murdered hundreds of innocent people and targeted schools, shrines, hospitals, adding that Islam did not allow individual jihad, the report said.