Sunni Ulema Council
| سنی علماء کونسل پاکستان | |
Variant flag of ASWJ, often used by SUC | |
| Formation | 2001 |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Sunni Islamism Anti-Shi'ism Deobandism Political Islam |
| Headquarters | Islamabad, Pakistan |
| Location | |
Secretary General | Masood ur Rehman Usmani (till 2024) |
| Ahmed Ludhianvi | |
Leader of Punjab Division | Muhammad Ashraf Tahir |
| Affiliations | Sipah-e-Sahaba Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat |
Sunni Ulema Council (S.U.C) (Urdu: سنی علماء کونسل; English: Council of Sunni Scholars) is a Sunni Deobandi Islamist religio-political organization in Pakistan, which is affiliated with the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jama'at (ASWJ).[1][2][3][4]
The group was led by Masood ur Rehman Usmani until his assassination by unknown gunmen in Islamabad in January 2024.[5][6][7]
It is rival group to the Shia Ulema Council.[8] The group's political alignment was further demonstrated when it under the leadership of Muhammad Ashraf Tahir joined the Difa-e-Pakistan Council, an Islamist alliance, in late 2011. This move came amidst heightened tensions with the United States following a 2011 NATO attack on Pakistan near the Afghan border.[9][10][11]
The organization has been the target of violent attacks, resulting in the deaths of several members and leaders. These include Salim Khatiri, its Karachi leader,[12] who was assassinated in an attack widely attributed to Shia militants, and Masood ur Rehman Usmani, who was killed in Islamabad in January 2024.[6][13]
See also
References
- ^ "Workers of Sunni Ulema Council participate in a rally to observe Youm-e-Shahadat of Hazrat Umar (R.A) on the first of Muharram-ul-Haram in front of the Press Club". 27 June 2025.
- ^ "Marka-e-Haq, Independence Day celebrated in Nawabshah". The Nation. 18 August 2025.
- ^ "Sunni Ulema Council warns of protests at 60 points in Karachi". DialoguePakistan.
- ^ "دشمن قوتیں پاکستان میں عدم استحکام پیدا کرنے کی سازشیں کر رہی ہیں، سنی علماء کونسل". jang.com.pk (in Urdu). Retrieved 5 November 2025.
- ^ "Sunni Ulema Council leader Masood Usmani killed in Islamabad | Pakistan Today". 5 January 2024.
- ^ a b "Thousands of Mourners Attend Funeral for Slain Pakistani Cleric". Voice of America. 6 January 2024.
- ^ Asghar, Naeem (5 January 2024). "Prominent religious figure shot dead in Islamabad". The Express Tribune.
- ^ "Shia Ulema Council district president shot, guard injured". 18 January 2014.
- ^ Houreld, Katharine (9 July 2012). "Thousands of Pakistanis Protest Opening of NATO Supply Route". The New York Times. Reuters. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
- ^ Hasan, Syed Shoaib (20 February 2012). "Resurgence of Pakistan's religious right". BBC News. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
- ^ Walsh, Declan (9 July 2012). "Pakistan Militant Leads Rally Against Supply Route Reopenings". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
- ^ Rauf, Sajid (23 March 2023). "Another religious scholar killed in targeted attack". The Express Tribune.
- ^ Dawn.com (21 March 2023). "Religious scholar shot dead in 'targeted attack' in Karachi's Gulistan-i-Jauhar". Dawn.