Peaceful chehlum: Home secretary lauds public role

Security was on high-alert during chehlum to avoid sectarian clashes in light of Rawalpindi incident on Ashura.

PESHAWAR: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Home and Tribal Affairs secretary on Friday thanked all sects for their help in maintaining peace during the chehlum of Imam Hussain. Syed Akhtar Ali Shah told The Express Tribune although the law enforcement agencies were ready to respond to all sorts of incidents, maintaining peace could not have been possible without support from the general public. “I am thankful to elders of all the sects who played a vital role in maintaining a cordial atmosphere,” said Shah, adding he hopes all groups will maintain the same level of sectarian harmony in the future. Security was on high-alert all over the province during the chehlum on Tuesday to avoid sectarian clashes in light of the Rawalpindi incident on Ashura.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 28^th, 2013.