Certain elements have 'distorted' Islam's image: Nawaz Sharif

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today said certain elements have "distorted" Islam's image by spreading anarchy and bloodshed and appealed to religious scholars to play their role in elimination of root causes of extremism in the society.

He was addressing the National Seerat Conference in Lahore, which was organised to celebrate the birth of Prophet Mohammad.

Sharif said Islam is the religion of peace and tolerance and "it is regrettable that certain elements have distorted this very image by spreading anarchy and bloodshed," Radio Pakistan reported.

He pointed out that due to the efforts and sacrifices of the national leadership, religious scholars, armed forces and police, the hideouts of the terrorists have almost been eliminated.

"It is the responsibility of religious scholars to re-establish the link between Islam and peace by taking guidance from the life and teachings of the Holy Prophet," he said.

Sharif said respect of humanity and human life is the inevitable part of Islamic teachings and the holy Prophet Mohammad laid the foundation of a society based on high moral values.

Quoting different incidents from the life of holy Prophet, the Prime Minister said the Prophet gave first written constitution in the form of Misaq-e-Madina and also the first charter of human rights in his last Hajj Sermon.

Sharif said that Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Muhammad Iqbal had envisioned Pakistan as a modern Islamic state.

The theme of the conference was "Interfaith harmony in light of the teaching of Islam and life of Prophet Mohammad" and it was attended by scholars belonging to different religions.

The objective of the Conference is to highlight the glorious teachings of the final messenger of Allah, Mohammad and disseminate the peace message of Islam all over the world.