K & P

Desire for peace: Special funds allocated to beef up security for Muharram

Peace jirga attended by senior officials, tribal elders and clerics.

Our Correspondent October 01, 2013

Participants maintained those who are disloyal to their soil could not be Muslims and every effort will be made to restore peace in the area. PHOTO: APP/ FILE

HANGU: Special funds have been allocated to beef up security for maintaining peace and preventing any acts of terrorism or sectarian violence during the month of Muharram.

A peace jirga attended by senior officials, tribal elders, ulema and other elders of the district was held at the Deputy Commissioner Office, Hangu on Tuesday to discuss core security challenges during Muharram in the district. The meeting was attended by Kohat Commissioner Sayed Jamaluddin, Kohat DIG Ishtiaq Marwat, Deputy Commissioner Sayed Ahmad Jan, DPO Iftikhar Ahmad, FC commandant Abdul Jabar, MNA Khayal Zaman, MPA Shah Faisal, Sunni Supreme Council Chairperson Maulana Abdul Satar, Shia leader Maulana Khurshid Ahmad Jawadi and other security officials and tribal elders.

Speakers stressed Shias and Sunnis are brothers and share the same culture and belief. However, they claimed there are certain miscreants who are bent on sabotaging this brotherhood and weakening the fabric of culture and religion.

Participants maintained those who are disloyal to their soil could not be Muslims and every effort will be made to restore peace in the area. People of this area have cast their vote in the name of peace and prosperity and it is the responsibility of the government to meet on ground challenges, they added.

“Those who disrupt peace in the area are the enemies of state, religion, culture and the people. Anti-state elements will not succeed in their heinous intentions,” said Kohat Commissioner Sayed Jamaluddin while speaking to the media after the meeting.

He added a unanimous resolution was presented by Sunni and Shia leaders to the Kohat administration to make sure an effective plan is adopted for the safety of those commuting on Kohat-Parachinar Road. In addition, participants demanded those killed in sectarian violence be compensated and lack of staff in different departments be taken into notice.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 2^nd, 2013.