Surveillance: Seminaries reassured over new measures

Capital police are addressing concerns of religious seminaries in the wake of increased scrutiny of visitors to madrassas.

The cooperation of religious scholars is crucial for peace and the police will address the concerns of seminary administrations, said Islamabad Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tahir Alam Khan in a meeting with seminary scholars on Wednesday.

According to a press release, the IGP appreciated the role of scholars in following the loudspeaker act but said awareness still needs to be created among religious scholars in rural areas.

Scholars at the meeting assured the police chief that seminaries and mosques would promote inter-faith harmony and none would be allowed to fan sectarian hatred, adding that hate material would be barred from distribution.

The scholars expressed their reservations during the meeting regarding the increased scrutiny at religious seminaries. The IGP said seminaries will be searched only when strong evidence exists of students being involved in criminal or terror-related acts.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 20^th, 2015.