Shia community not satisfied with security during Muharram

Author: Staff Report

PESHAWAR: Members of the Shia community have expressed dissatisfaction over security measures taken by police for Muharram and demanded deployment of army in sensitive districts of KP to ensure protection of mourner processions during Ashura.

Speaking at a news conference on Thursday, Provincial Convener Muharram Committee Azadari Cell, Maulana Malik Ejlal Haider Al-Haideri said that situation was precarious owing to possible sabotage acts in different districts. The government should avail the services of army for Muharram security, he added.

Ejlal Haideri said that government should take all possible precautionary measures for protection of processions. “We demand deployment of army in the most sensitive areas like Peshawar, Kohat, Hangu, Parachinar and D.I. Khan for maintaining law and order during the Muharram,” he said. Though, he said the provincial authorities are constantly in contact with Muharram committee, but they were yet to issue notification regarding setting up Muharram control room, to timely resolve the issues of mourners.

Accompanied by Shia leaders, Zahir Ali, Allama Khurshid Jawadi, Sardar Abdul Hassan Qazalbash and others, he demanded the enforcement of 17 points code of Azadari, unveiled by Tehreek Nifaz-e-Fiqa Jafiria for Muharram.

Explaining the salient features of TNFJ Azadari code, Haideri said that local administrations and law enforcement agencies, should strictly abide with agreements of mourning procession. He called for setting up Azadari cells across the country.

He demanded of the government and law enforcement agencies to take adequate measures for protection of processions in most sensitive districts in the province.

He called for strictly implementation of Anti-terrorism Act, and National Action Plan, to avoid any untoward incident during the Muharram. He also demanded the uninterrupted supply of electricity and take strict action against those people, taking law in their hands.

Expressing concern over illegal interrogation and confinements of patriotic and pro-Islam religious leaders under the fourth scheduled law, Ejlal called for exclusion of all pro-government and country religious leaders under the law. He said the authorities concerned, should refrain from imposing any law, which was subjected to elude the religious freedom.