Punjab govt vary of hate on social media ahead of Muharram

Punjab law minister urges clerics to promote religious harmony

ISLAMABAD:

The provincial government on Tuesday said all possible measures will be taken to maintain religious harmony and prevent anarchy during the holy month of Muharram, warning ‘miscreants’ of spreading hate on social media.

This was directed by Punjab Law Minister Raja Basharat on Tuesday as he chaired a meeting of the Punjab Cabinet Committee for Law and Order in Rawalpindi.

The minister said that a strict security plan has been formulated for the city on the directives of Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar to maintain law and order during Muharram.

“We will take steps to crush those who try to spread chaos during the month and promote activities to spread religious harmony,” Basharat said, adding that sectarian harmony is the need of the hour.

Further, the minister expressed that the country was already going through a fragile period and that under such conditions, there was no room for hatred and mischievousness.

The law minister further noted that Rawalpindi has been a peaceful place apart from a few untoward incidents.

He urged that religious differences must be respected while there was a need for tolerance of other religious sects, adding that the ulema should give the message of love, peace, and respect in their sermons.

The cooperation of the business community during Muharram processions was critical too, he noted.

Basharat emphasised the religious clerics condemn all such activities through social media that fuel sectarian hatred while directing the administration to take action against them.

Earlier, the Punjab IGP briefed Basaharat about security arrangements for Muharram in the entire province. He added that they will be beefed up to maintain law and order during Muharram.

Ulema from different sects on the occasion denounced the elements involved in creating sectarianism on social media and said that there was no room of sectarianism in Islam.

They also committed to maintaining communal peace.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 5^th, 2020.