Muharram: Bite your tongue

District authorities seek cooperation of local clerics in helping maintain peace and promoting religious harmony.

SIALKOT: District authorities have sought the cooperation of local clerics in helping maintain peace and promoting religious harmony among people of all schools of thought during Muharram.

Several ulema met with the Punjab minister for Food Ch Abdul Ghafur and agreed to keep close watch on all suspicious activity at the majalis.

Ghafur said that anyone found inciting religious hatred would be dealt with an iron fist.

“No one will be allowed to sabotage the peace during Muharram and we have asked that all clerics deliver their speeches calmly,” he said.

The minister was addressing an important meeting of the district peace committee. Elected representatives of the clergy, district coordination officer (DCO) Mujahid Sher Dil, district police officer (DPO) Bilal Saddique Kamiyana and clerics from all denominations attended the meeting.

We want to maintain sectarian harmony but the pleas by the authorities not to raise our voices and arouse the passions of the majlis go against the entire purpose of Muharram,” said Maulana Haji Shakir Ali. Mulana Rasheedud Din said, “They keep telling us not to show our anger but we are angry.” The provincial minister said that Muslims needed to learn a lesson from the past mistakes, which triggered bloody violence and led to the destruction of property and valuables. “The people are fully aware of the problems and difficulties of the present era and this is why it is our collective responsibility to promote and maintain peace,” Ghafur said. DPO Kamiyana said that measures had been taken to protect the mosques, madrassas, imambargahs, churches and other public places in the district.

“We realise that the security situation is particularly sensitive this year, given that most recent blasts have been on religious shrines,” the DPO said. He added that police teams had been patrolling the district round the clock and the police had also engaged the services of civil society in their efforts. “Both Shia and Sunni clerics had been asked to avoid furious speeches and preach with patience and tolerance in an effort to promote sectarian harmony and tolerance,” he said. “It is about time our religious leaders shunned their sectarian differences in larger national interest and glory of Islam,” Ghafur said, adding that above all the ulema should be focusing on ‘healing’ wounds rather than opening them or creating new ones.

“We are hoping for a peaceful Muharram. This is a time where people are meant to reflect on the great tragedy of Karbala and repent,” said Qazi Jahangir Abbas.

DPO Kamiyana said that Section 144 of the criminal procedure code (CRPC) had been implemented in the district. “This strictly prohibits the display or use of arms,” he said, adding that the local police was also installing walk through gates and scanners at all key locations.

“We have been monitoring the activities of the clergy very closely over the past month and dozens of ulema have been arrested for making inflammatory speeches,” the DPO said. “We eventually decided that we needed to meet with the clerics and discuss our reservations openly,” he said.

Sialkot DCO Mujahid Sher Dil said that all clerics had been asked to maintain peace and order at their respective majalis and that their sessions would be closely monitored by security personnel.

“We have warned them that if there is any inflammatory speech they will be arrested at once,” Dil said.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 12^th, 2010.