Islamabad: Pakistani religious scholars on Thursday issued a 'fatwa' that declared voting in the country's upcoming general election was "compulsory under Islamic injunctions", a senior religious leader said.
Over 300 clerics from different schools of Islamic thought issued the decree in Islamabad nearly two weeks ahead of the May 11 general elections, Pakistan Ulema Council chairman Allama Tahir Ashrafi said.
The edict was in marked contrast to the stance taken by the banned Pakistani Taliban, who have described democracy as "un-Islamic" and warned people not to participate in the landmark polls that will mark Pakistan's first democratic transition of power.
Ashrafi said the fatwa contends that voting is an "Islamic obligation" of the people and the action of those who avoid voting will be considered a "sin". He said the decree was prepared after ascertaining the opinion of senior religious scholars, who urged people to exercise their right to vote....
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