12 July 2004	Monday	23 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425

PESHAWAR, July 11: The Aqamat-i-Salat campaign in the NWFP has gained momentum while a formal announcement to this effect has also been made at tehsil Jandool of district Dir Lower which says that prayers will be offered at mosques of all bazaars, cities and towns.

Shopkeepers will be required to close their shops with the start of the Azaan. However police and levy personnel will continue to patrol for security purposes. The formal announcement was made by senior provincial minister Sirajul Haq at a convention held at Munda on Saturday which was attended by District Nazim Ihsanul Haq, tehsil Nazim Qazi Hussain Ahmad and administration officials.

The minister said that the system would be enforced in all parts of the province. He said that the campaign in this respect had been launched following the long-standing desire of the people and their elected representatives.

He said the step was also part of the MMA government measures for revival of Islamic values and reformation of society. He said the system had been launched after consultations with people from all walks of life and public opinion leaders. He also announced formation of a Tanzeem-i-Salat Committee comprising tehsil nazim, area DSP, heads of police stations concerned and local people.

Other speakers in their speeches lauded the steps taken by the MMA government for Islamization and reformation of society and assured the government of their full support for the success of the campaign. A great deal of enthusiasm was witnessed in mosques after the announcement of Aqamat-i-Salat system in Dir. -PPI