Karachi Maulana Tanveer-ul-Haq Thanvi was appointed president of the Muttahida Bain-ul-Muslimeen Forum and four Ulema from different schools of thought were made its senior vice presidents on Thursday. Some of the newly appointed office-bearers addressed the first press conference of the forum at the press club here on Thursday. The forum formed a 29-member committee comprising a president, four senior vice presidents, 16 vice presidents, a general secretary, a coordination secretary and six members of the forum. Maulana Thanvi announced the names of the committee’s senior vice presidents. They are Ameer Abdullah Farooqui, Jaffaria Alliance chief Allama Abbas Kumaili, Allama Hafiz Qari Jameel Rathore, and Hafiz Mohammad Salfi. While 16 of the vice presidents belonging to different schools of thought from across the country have been given their tasks, six members of the executive council will perform their duties for the Muttahida Bain-ul-Muslimeen under the banner of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement. Moulana Thanvi said the organisation aimed to defuse sectarian strife and bring people belonging to different schools of thought closer as the latest surge in sectarian killings in the city and other parts of the country had created panic among the clerics. MQM chief Altaf Hussain has given a platform to the united forum to rid the country of bloodshed. He is of the view that under a conspiracy Shia-Sunni rift was being created, which will prove harmful for the state. “Someone had to take the lead and it was MQM chief Altaf Hussain who facilitated the formation of this joint forum,” Maulana Thanvi said. Allama Abbas Kumaili, senior vice president of the forum, while condemning sectarian killings, said any Muslim killing his brother was out of religion, while Maulana Thanvi said no hate material should be used against any sect and any person involved in this heinous crime would have to be accountable to the people. In reply to a question, he said the committee members would contact people, senior officials and others to spread the message of love, a message that was given by “our last Prophet (PBUH)”. Maulana Thanvi said that “we were forced to take to the streets” as continuous killings of innocent people and the ongoing wave of sectarianism in the country caused great concerns among the religious scholars. He said demonstrations would be staged across the country to convey the message that any conspiracy against Islam and Pakistan would be thwarted. Later, these Ulema joined hands with the clerics who were demonstrating outside the press club. The supporters were carrying Paksitani flags and condemning target killings of Shia and Sunni leaders.