Ulema urged to adhere to processions timings, routes

RAWALPINDI - Advisor to Chief Minister and PML-N Punjab General Secretary Raja Ashfaq Sarwar has said that Ulema, Zakreen and religious scholars of all schools of thought should play their role for ensuring tranquility, peace, fraternity, love and brotherhood among the files of Muslims during sacred month of Muharram-ul-Haram. Raja Ashfaq expressed these views while addressing a meeting of elected representatives, officers of police, administration, prominent religious scholars, ulemas and zakreens in Commissioner office here on Saturday. He added that the organisers should observe the routes and timings strictly of the Azadari processions and majalis and the administration and the police would do their best to provide all possible facilities to them including security cover on these occasions. Special assistant to Chief Minister Punjab Ch. Sarfraz Afzal, Members of Provincial Assembly Raja Hanif Advocate, Yasir Raza Malik, Raja Fayyaz Sarwar, Malik Iftikhar, Col (R) Shabbir Awan, former MPA Umer Farooq, Raja Atique Sarwar, Commissioner Rawalpindi Zahid Saeed, RPO Muhammad Aslam Tareen, DCO Imdad Ullah Bosal, CPO Rao Muhammad Iqbal, President Anjuman-e-Tajraan Rawalpindi Shahid Ghafoor Piracha and large number of ulema and religious scholars from all schools of thoughts attended the meeting. Raja Ashfaq Sarwar said that Muharam-ul-Haram is a sacred month for all Muslims which not only reminds us the great sacrifice of the Hazarat Imam Hussain and their companions, but also gives lessons of patience, tolerance and sacrifice. He said that ulema and zakreen could promote sentiments of fraternity, love, brotherhood among the Muslims of all sects. The Advisor to C.M. said that administration and police had finalized their arrangements for providing security cover to all processions and majalis in the district, but these arrangements could be made successful only with the cooperation of ulema, zakreen, organizers, volunteers, members of Peace Committees, traders associations and all other segments of the society. He said that the organizers of azadari processions and majalis should also get screening of their volunteers also with a view to ensure that some miscreants may not enter in the garb of volunteers. He said that proper checking of routes and places of majalis be done before they were held by the police besides checking of Niaz and Sabeels prior to its distribution by the responsible persons especially by the organizers who intended to distribute such Niaz or Sabeel. Raja Ashfaq Sarwar said that Punjab Government had ensured all security measures from local level to provincial level under an integrated plan in this respect. Divisional Khateeb Maulana Siraj Uddin, Allama Syed Nasir Abbas and other religious scholars on this occasion presented various proposals regarding security arrangements including provision of walk-through gates, scanners and metal detectors. They assured their all out cooperation during the whole month of Muharam-ul-Haram. Commissioner Rawalpindi Zahid Saeed, RPO Muhammad Aslam Tareen and other officers of the administration briefed the meeting about security, cleanliness, electricity, traffic and other arrangements on the occasion of all main processions and majalis in the district during the sacred month. Elected representatives also presented their proposals in the meeting and said that they would also remain present on the occasion of main azadari processions in their respective constituencies. They added that the designs of the terrorists could only be foiled through vigilance and cooperation and collaboration of all segment of society.

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