DEC 12, (DNA) – Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday urged religious scholars and intellectuals to play their role in eliminating the root causes of extremism from the society.

Addressing the National Seerat Conference in Lahore on the occasion of Eid Milad-un-Nabi, the prime minister said Islam is the religion of peace and tolerance and lamented that certain elements distorted this image by spreading anarchy and bloodshed.

He noted that due to the unrelenting efforts and sacrifices of the government, armed forces and law enforcement agencies, terrorism has largely been eliminated.

The way forward to fight terrorism and extremism successfully is by taking guidance from the life and teachings of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), he said and urged the Ulema to provide their guidance for establishing a modern Islamic state.

The prime minister said intolerance and difference in opinions had resulted in bloodshed in the past several years. He noted that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) disliked falsehood and blame games.

He said Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) laid the foundations of a society based on high moral values.

“As the heirs of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), it is the responsibility of Muslims to revive these values and norms in our daily life and conduct,” the prime minister said.

The prime minister noted that the last Prophet gave the Muslim Ummah its first written constitution in the form of Misaq-e-Madina and also the first human rights charter in his last Hajj sermon.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif added that Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal had envisioned Pakistan as a modern Islamic state.

“Now it is our responsibility to achieve their dream,” he said.

Eid Milad-un-Nabi (12th of Rabi ul Awwal) is being observed with religious fervour across the country today (Monday).

The celebrations began early in the day with a 31-cannon salute in Islamabad and 21-cannon salute in Lahore and Peshawar out of respect for the birthday of Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH).