ISLAMABAD: Imam (prayer leader) of Holy Kaaba Dr Sheikh Abdul Rehman Al-Sudais on Friday said that the Islam has forbidden resorting to bomb blasts and violent actions and preaches harmony, love and tolerance in the society.

"Spilling blood is not Islam -- we should respect each other by shunning sectarianism -- Pakistan is a country of those loving Deen-e-Islam -- we stand by it as against its enemies," said the Imam of Holy Kaaba Dr Sheikh Abdul Rehman Al-Sudais while addressing the Friday congregation at the Faisal Mosque.

The Imam of Kaaba enjoys a special place among the hardline religious Islamists in the country and the government of President Musharraf availed the opportunity of his presence in Pakistan to press the arguments against extremism and militancy in the country.

Even the clerics of Lal Masjid Maulana Abdulaziz demanded that Imam Kaaba should be declared Amir-ul-Momenee (Leader of the faithful) and President Musharraf should be removed from office.