Uniform prayer timings in capital under consideration, govt tells NA

Minister of State for Religious Affairs says govt is meeting religious parties of all sects in this regard

ISLAMABAD: Government informed the National Assembly on Thursday that it was consulting religious scholars from all sects to introduce uniform prayer timings in the federal capital.

“We are making efforts to introduce uniform timings for Azaan (call for prayer) in Islamabad and a decision is likely to come through in a week, over which the nation would be happy,” Minister of State for Religious Affairs Pir Aminul Hasnat said.

Responding to a question, Hasnat said a meeting in this regard had taken place on Wednesday with scholars from all the sects and an agreement was reached over timings of four prayers.

As per details, the government has decided to implement a uniform system in the federal capital under which Azaan (call of prayers) timings will be fixed while Salat (prayers) would be also offered at one particular time throughout the capital.

“Once an agreement is reached, after consultation with the scholars we will bring it to the National Assembly,” Hasnat added.

However, the state minister said that there were some forces that wanted to sabotage the effort by propagating a negative impression in the media.

Referring to media reports that “the move was aimed at bringing the Saudi system” the minister said it was not the factual position.

“After the success over uniform timings in Islamabad, we will replicate it in other cities,” he added.

Addressing the concern of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz MNA Major (retd) Tahir Iqbal regarding rumours in his constituency Chakwal that loud speakers for Azaan will be banned, Hasnat said,  “There is no such proposal under discussion.”

Further, regarding registration of seminaries, the minister added, “Registration of Madrassas is not something new as it has been in practice since 2005.”

However, he said that the representatives of seminaries have suggested there should be one consolidated form about information the authorities need, instead of many.