Religious scholars, traders vow to maintain peace in Muharram

District administration, police hold marathon meetings with ulema to ensure sectarian harmony

JHELUM: Representatives of local communities, traders and religious scholars on Wednesday assured the civil administration that they will try to maintain peace and harmony during the mourning month of Muharram.

Members of various schools of thought said difference of opinion should not translate into hate speech. They were speaking at a meeting of the inter-faith religious harmony committee took place in the committee room of the Deputy Commissioner Office which was presided over by Jhelum Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Jahanzaib Awan.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Revenue Khalid Mehmood Tipu, DC (General) Bilal Feroz Jaeya, assistant commissioners from the tehsils, religious scholars from all over the district and minority representatives belonging to different religions were also present in the meeting.



Awan said that to maintain great peace, the unity and mutual consensus of the sects and all religions is the need of the time.

“Our religion, Islam, gives us lesson of peace and brotherhood. Our purpose in this gathering is to ensure the maintenance of peace all over the district through their role,” he said.

The meeting concluded with a prayer for mutual unity and brotherhood.

Peace committee meets

Later during a meeting of the District Peace Committee, DC Awan and District Police Officer Syed Mustafa Tanveer said that the district administration and police are alert to ensure peace in Muharramul Haram.

“The administration and will ensure protection of life and property of the people through coordination,” Awan said.

DPO Tanveer said security and cleanliness of the routes of Muharram processions besides other arrangements will be ensured during Muharram.

The meeting was attended by the members of provincial assembly, Chaudhry Zafar Iqbal, Raja Yawar Kamal, Sabrina Javed, Jhelum Assistant Commissioner Ateeb Sultan, Deena AC Amber Gillani, Qari Muhammad Farooq from Jamia Hanfia and Masoodul Hassan Gillani from Markazi Anjuman Imamia.

Religious scholars including Hafiz Azhar Iqbal, Sufi Muhammad Aslam, Qutub Shah, Mirza Asif Hayat, and Anjamun Tajiran President Chaudhry Arif Mehmood were present in the meeting.

Awan said that the district has always been successful in maintaining peace due to the cooperation of the district Aman committee members.

Urging people of different sects to desist any attempts of fanning sectarian hatred, he said: “we have to work together to make Jhelum a bastion of peace and sectarian harmony.”

DPO Tanveer acknowledged the role of mainstream ulema and zakireen in maintaining peace.

The religious scholar said that they will cooperate with the government and administration in maintaining peace in the district.

They assured the district administration and police of full cooperation. Addressing the meeting, the Anjuman Tajiran President Chaudhry Arif said that traders cooperate with the administration with regard to closure of markets on the routes of mourning processions during Muharram.

Core committee meeting

The core committee of the district administration, police, public representative and religious scholars noted that for the days leading up to Ashura, all the relevant departments should be on their toes.

Officials told the meeting that encroachment are being removed from the routes of Muharram processions.



To assist the mourners during maatam, around 172 doctors and 908 paramedics of the district health department along with rescue 1122 ambulances have been deputed.

Officials said that 117 processions will pass through various roads of the city during the 10 days of Muharram. Besides, they said, 470 majalis will be held in Jhelum during the period.

DPO Tanveer told the meeting that processions will be provided fool proof security. Police officers have been issued exclusive duty rosters for security details, he said.

However, the district police chief asked the organisers of processions and religious gatherings to follow the time table and ensure time management so that all arrangements can be handled with great care. 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 13^th, 2018.