CM urges quarterly meetings on religious harmony

Stressing the need for an active role of the Punjab Ittehad Bainul Muslimeen Committee, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has said meetings of forum should be convened after every three months rather than annually.

Chairing a meeting of the committee attended by scholars of all schools of thought, academic and religious personalities, she said, “It is my foremost duty to enforce the law and dispense justice. When a crime is proved, the criminal should be punished and such people should be sent behind the bar.”

She said the rape of a child in a seminary in Sahiwal had been proved, but when the police took action, edicts were issued against her on social media.

She said incidents of desecration of the Holy Quran were increasing. “I want all of us to sit together to prevent such incidents and see what is the reason behind increase in such incidents,” she added.

“Come what may, we must not take the law into our own hands and issue fatwas,” she said.

CM Maryam Nawaz said, “More than 50,000 social media accounts and pages have been blocked by the Punjab government. Today, a man is giving fatwas on social media about girls’ school.”

She said the security of the Muharram Majalis is the responsibility of the Punjab government.

She added that the government would install sabeels along the routes of the procession and facilitate the distribution of food.

The chief minister said a central control room would be set up in all districts, which would be monitored by her. Defending the defamation law, she said no one would be allowed to disrepute and slander anyone.