Suicide attacks in J&K justified: Pak clerics

Religious leaders in Pakistan have described the suicide attacks by Muslim freedom fighters in Kashmiri as "justified", but "not justified" if waged within Pakistan.

The religious leaders said that such attacks were also justified if carried out by Muslim freedom fighters in Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan.

They said that in those countries where Jehad is being waged the suicide attacks are justified, but such attacks are prohibited where Jehad has not started even if it is a non-Islamic country.

The statement from as many as 40 religious parties in Pakistan has come as a response to the recent `fatwa' issued by a section of clerics saying that suicide attacks were forbidden in Islam.

The religious leaders arrived at the consensus at a consultative meeting here Wednesday in Jamia al Qadsia. After the meeting, Amir of Jamaat-ul-Dawat Professor Hafiz Muhammad Saeed said that no such situation was prevailing in

Pakistan that warranted a `fatwa' with reference to suicide attacks.