ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Imran Khan has reaffirmed the commitment to transform Pakistan into a modern Islamic welfare state in line with the Islamic teachings and ideas of its forefathers.

He was addressing the two-day International Rehmatal-Lil-Aalameen Conference in Islamabad on Tuesday.

The Prime Minister directed the Higher Education Commission to set up special chairs on Seerat-Un-Nabi (SAWW) at three different universities ensuring a specific research on the life, character and teachings of the last Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (SAWW).

He said it would help educate and enlighten our new generation about the phenomenon as to how our Holy Prophet (PBUH) carved out the first-ever Islamic welfare state of Madinah Munawwarah and how he transformed the characters of Arabs in a short span of time.

He said Pakistan will spearhead efforts to get passed an international convention on preventing defamation of religions. He added that nobody can be allowed to hurt the sentiments of billions of Muslims under the garb of freedom of speech.

Imran said he will appoint an international law expert Ahmar Bilal Sufi as his special envoy to visit different countries to contact different experts and leaders to get the convention passed.

He said the Holy Prophet (PBUH) achieved this distinct target not through mobilizing resources but inculcating a spirit in his followers to serve humanity with selflessness.

The prime minister regretted that some elements in the West and Europe are indulging in blasphemous acts time and again on the pretext of freedom of expression provoking the Muslim Ummah across the globe.

He said when a chain of reaction comes in the Muslim world; the same Western and European nations dub the Muslims as terrorists and extremists through their propaganda machines. The prime minister also urged the religious scholars and intellectuals to promote true teachings of Islam.

“After the success of Jang-e-Badr with 313 Muslims in 625 AD, the Islamic state defeated the Roman and Persian Empires, respectively, in 636 AD and 638 AD. There is a need to study how the State of Madinah converted into a superpower in 11 years,” he said.

The prime minister spoke at length about the way of life and strong character of Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and said Almighty Allah, Who is “Rabbul Alamin”, Himself described Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as “Rehmatul-lil-Alameen”.

He said there was a need to study the life of Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as to how he made the poor Arabs to rule world and reach India and Central Asia from Morocco in just 30 years.

“What he (Prophet Muhammad – PBUH) had? How he turned the common people into great ones and transformed their character. History has no example of a person [except Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)] who created a state which lasted for 700 years,” he maintained.

He regretted that after every few years there was a condemnable trend of blasphemous acts in the West under the garb of freedom of expression which causes strong protests in the Muslim world including Pakistan.

The prime minister recalled that after such an incident in Holland, his government took up the issue with the Holland authorities, and succeeded in the cancellation of a blasphemous cartoon competition.

Later, Pakistan also raised this issue at the OIC and the UN levels, which led to a declaration by the EU Court of Human Rights forbidding religious defamation in the name of expression of freedom, he added.

He said it was only due to the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) that encouraged “Ulema Deen” like Nizam-ud-Din, Data Ganj Bukhsh, Baba Farid, Baba Bulleh Shah, Khawaja Moin-ud-Din Chishti and others, to reach every nook and cranny of the world to peach Islam. “They did not preach Islam through sword, but through their character,” he remarked, adding they were the ambassadors of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

He said the promotion of Islam in Indonesia and Malaysia was not due to effort of any army but due to the true character and dealing of some Muslims who had gone there for trade.

Prime Minister Khan also recalled how he inclined towards religion after meeting with Mian Bashir Sufi – a scholar, during his cricketing years and with the blessings of Allah Almighty he started reading and understanding Holy Quran and that was a turning point for him.

He said faith of any Muslim in Islam did not complete without the true love for Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

He said Pakistan was a great country which they had to change and raise it with the support of people from every segment of life including scholars.

Earlier, a two-day international Rehmatal-Lil-Aalameen Conference began at the Jinnah Convention Centre Islamabad on Tuesday.

The conference is being held under the auspices of Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony. Topic of the conference is “finality of Prophethood and responsibilities of Muslims in light of the teachings of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

It is the 43rd conference aimed at promoting religious harmony, tolerance, brotherhood and equality, respect for humanity, non-violence, unity, reconciliation and culture of dialogue.

Islamic scholars, from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Afghanistan, Syria, Morocco, and the United Kingdom are participating in the event. Ulema are shedding light on various aspects of the life and teachings of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

Cash awards and certificates are also being given to 53 authors, whose books or articles were selected after a due process, in nine categories. These categories are Seerat and Naat Books in Urdu, English, Arabic, and regional languages of Pakistan.

Federal Ministers, politicians, diplomats of various countries, men, and women are also attending the event.