LAHORE: A City District Government of Lahore (CDGL) warning against use of open spaces for Eid prayers has increased the people’s apprehensions.
Some sections of the ulema have turned the warning down claiming it was a proof of the government’s ineptness.
“The CDGL says open spaces should be avoided but the ulema I’ve consulted have rejected that there is any security threat,” Saad Jan, a Model Town resident said. He said that he had been offering the prayer at the Model Town park for so many years but was unsure whether to go their this Eid.
Sajjad Ahmed Bhutta, the district coordination officer (DCO), said that the warning was issued as a precaution. “There is always a threat of terrorism in large gatherings,” he said, “My job is to warn the public in advance of any possible threat. If open spaces are to be used, proper security arrangements should be in place.”
Sahibzada Fazle Kareem, Markazi Jamiat Ulema Pakistan president, said that if the government could not provide security, it should step down. “We cannot stop performing our religious obligations just because they cannot impose their writ,” he said. He said his party would organise Eid prayers in a park.
Liaqat Baloch, a Jamat-e-Islami senior leader, rejected the warning and termed it a proof of government’s incompetence. More than security, he said, the government was afraid of people gathering in large numbers. He said that Shariah specified open areas as most suitable for offering Eid prayers. What good were the government and its security agencies, he inquired, if they could not provide security to the people? The DCO said that he was discussing the situation with clerics from various denominations. On Thursday, he said, he had held a meeting with the Shia and Deobandi clerics. Another meeting with Ahle Hadith and Barelvi clerics was scheduled for Friday.
Muhammad Ziaul Haq, Jamia Naeemia’s spokesperson, however, said he was not aware of any such meeting. He said that the administration of Jamia Naeemia was not consulted on the issue. Haq stated that if there was a terrorism threat in offering prayers, Islam allowed people to skip it. He said that the Eid prayers were not farz and could be abandoned under special circumstances.
There are more than 100 open spaces in the city where Eid prayers are offered every year. These include prominent parks such as Lawrence Gardens, Minare Pakistan, Gaddafi stadium, Ghulshan-i-Iqbal Park, Jallo Park, Shalamar Gardens, Race Course Park, Model Town Park, Linear Park, Liberty Park etc. Sheikh Karamat, a Gulberg trader, said that instead of issuing warnings the administration should have chalked out a plan for the day. If there was a tangible threat, he said, a complete ban should have been imposed on the use of open spaces.
Waqas Ali, a regular at the Jamia Naeemia, criticised the government departments for their lack of coordination. Warning people would not help prevent a terrorist from blowing himself, he said, they should have done something more concrete to tackle the issue.
Farhan Majeed, a Model Town resident, said that his family had decided to say the Eid prayers at home. “Some neighbours have shown interest and we will organise a congregation at our home with my father leading the prayers,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 11th, 2010.
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