Religious scholars call for unity

Express satisfaction over security arrangements for Muharram

QUETTA:

Religious scholars have urged the people to maintain unity in their ranks during the holy month of Muharram saying it is the duty of Muslims to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussain.

“Imam Hussain has given the ummah the message of peace and justice. In the month of Muharram, the Sunni and Shia scholars of Quetta want to show the world that there is no difference between the two sects,” one of the religious leaders said while addressing a press conference at the Quetta Press Club.

Ulema Ahl-e-Sunnat and Balochistan Shia Conference President Engineer Jawad Rafi, Dr Attaur Rehman, Allama Juma Asadi, Allama Syed Hashim Mousavi, Habibullah Shah Chishti, Muhammad Iqbal Khilji, Manzar Abbas and former councilor Mir Aslam and others spoke on the occasion.

The speakers said that the government and the local administration had promised to provide foolproof security to the processions and mourning ceremonies during the holy month.

They noted that the issue of Kashmir had been deliberately left unresolved at the time of partition so that the Muslims and Hindus continue to point fingers at each other and the implementation on Sharia system is stalled.

The religious leaders said that in the struggle of truth and falsehood, commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Hussain was mandatory especially in the month of Muharram.

Deliberating on the battle of Karbala, they underscored that the tragedy gave the message of self-sacrifice in the face of cruelty and infidelity.

They said that Quetta had been the centre of Islamic values and history and that love and loyalty to Imam Hussain is the observance of God’s system and Sharia through which tyranny and disbelief can be defeated.

They observed that the provincial government, IG police, IG FC and other law enforcement agencies had assured them that foolproof security would be provided to the mourners during Muharram.

“We are now satisfied with the security arrangements made so far.”

More than 10,000 FC, police and other law enforcement personnel would perform their duties during the Ashura procession.

Commenting on the law and order situation in Balochistan, the speakers said that a “handful of terrorists were targeting the innocent people to please their foreign masters”. They expressed the resolve to foil nefarious designs of the anti-state elements.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 15^th, 2021.