Religious parties denounce clash in Hyderabad

‘It is national, religious obligation on all to maintain peace during Muharram’

HYDERABAD:

The Milli Yakjahti Council, a group representing various sectarian and religious parties and groups, has denounced the August 20 incident, which sparked a clash between two groups in Hyderabad. At a press conference at Hyderabad Press Club on Sunday the council's chief, Sahibzada Abul Khair Muhammad Zubair, distanced all religious and sectarian groups from the incident, terming it a conspiracy of a couple of individuals.

He was flanked by almost a dozen leaders of various religious parties and groups. He underlined that it is a national and religious obligation on all the people to maintain peace during the month of Muharram. He said the enemies of Islam, peace and Pakistan keep trying to sabotage peace during that month.

"An attempt was made and a conspiracy was perpetrated in Hyderabad but it was foiled by the people, religious leaders and government functionaries," said Zubair. The police lodged an FIR of the incident, which took place in Hashmat Bano town locality in City taluka, on the complaint of a resident, Hafiz Abdul Wahid.

A young man, Asad Shaikh, was arrested on Saturday and later remanded to 14-day judicial custody, being the central accused besides two unidentified persons, in the FIR. He was accused of dishonouring a companion of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) in a post on his Whatsapp status and on Facebook.

Dr Karam Ali Haideri of the Shia Ulema Council said all the religious leaders are united for peace, stability and prosperity in Pakistan. "This was a conspiracy to damage the environment of peace in Hyderabad but we all together foiled that bid."

The chairperson of the peace committee formed by Hyderabad Police, Imran Suharwardi, credited the committee for helping the administration to calm down the boiling situation.

Jamaat-e-Islami's senior leader Maulana Abdul Waheed Qureshi said such incidents should not be considered as sectarian because they are triggered by some individuals.

Jammat-e-Ulema-Islam-Fazl's leader Maulana Taj Muhammad Nahiyon praised the district administration and the police and demanded release of the people who were rounded up by the police unnecessarily.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, August 23^rd, 2021.