Friday protest: Ashrafi asks religious parties to show restraint
Ashrafi warns religious parties that certain foreign intelligence agencies were out to disturb the country’s peace.
No revised date for protest in Rawalpindi announced. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
In the wake of the Ashura clashes in Rawalpindi, different religious groups have announced to hold protest rallies across the country on Friday. Anticipating “spoilers” hijacking the demonstrations, Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) Chairman Allama Tahir Ashrafi has advised the religious groups to show constraint.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, Ashrafi warned religious parties that certain foreign intelligence agencies were out to disturb the country’s peace.
Referring to the recent killing of Naseeruddin Haqqani in the outskirts of Islamabad by unidentified gunmen, Ashrafi said if “certain elements” were capable of carrying out such a clandestine operation, they could easily conduct any sabotage activity in Pakistan.
Criticising the social media’s role after the Rawalpindi incident, Ashrafi said people should show more responsibility on such occasions. He urged people to not believe everything emanating from the social media.
Ashrafi also took Rawalpindi district administration to task over their “negligence and lethargy” in providing security on Ashura. He pointed out that he had himself requested the Punjab government to make special security arrangements for the Ashura processions in Rawalpindi.
Loudspeakers should have been banned and the two groups should not have been allowed to come face to face, he said, adding that in order to achieve sectarian harmony, the government should ban publication and dissemination of hate literature.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 21st, 2013.
In the wake of the Ashura clashes in Rawalpindi, different religious groups have announced to hold protest rallies across the country on Friday. Anticipating “spoilers” hijacking the demonstrations, Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) Chairman Allama Tahir Ashrafi has advised the religious groups to show constraint.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, Ashrafi warned religious parties that certain foreign intelligence agencies were out to disturb the country’s peace.
Referring to the recent killing of Naseeruddin Haqqani in the outskirts of Islamabad by unidentified gunmen, Ashrafi said if “certain elements” were capable of carrying out such a clandestine operation, they could easily conduct any sabotage activity in Pakistan.
Criticising the social media’s role after the Rawalpindi incident, Ashrafi said people should show more responsibility on such occasions. He urged people to not believe everything emanating from the social media.
Ashrafi also took Rawalpindi district administration to task over their “negligence and lethargy” in providing security on Ashura. He pointed out that he had himself requested the Punjab government to make special security arrangements for the Ashura processions in Rawalpindi.
Loudspeakers should have been banned and the two groups should not have been allowed to come face to face, he said, adding that in order to achieve sectarian harmony, the government should ban publication and dissemination of hate literature.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 21st, 2013.