Ulemas (religious scholars) of different schools of thought in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa issued on Monday a fatwa (religious decree) against terrorists and terrorist activities and rejected them.

In the fatwa issued by the ulemas of the province, it is said that jihad (holy war) can be declared by the head of an Islamic state. “Not everyone has the right to declare Jihad.

According to the scholars, jihad can be declared by the head of the Islamic state and avoiding the observance of the law is illegitimate.

According to the fatwa, it is forbidden to take up arms against police and military personnel.

In the fatwa issued regarding the acts of terrorism in the province, the scholars further said that if soldiers and policemen are killed, they are martyrs.

They declared that rebellion against the ruler of the time is tantamount to rebellion and its perpetrators deserve punishment.

Pakistan’s northern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the newly-merged tribal areas that border Afghanistan have witnessed a spike in terrorist attacks since the proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan called off its ceasefire in November last year.