PESHAWAR, July 18: NWFP Senior Minister Sirajul Haq has said that the system of congregational prayers (Nizam-i-Salat) has been launched on public demand and efforts should be made for its success because it is an important pillar of Islam.

Police and local administration would play their due role in ensuring security, law and order, and in protecting life, honour and people's property, he added.

Speaking at the concluding ceremony of the 10-day Dars-i-Tafheemul Quran at the Jinnah Park here on Sunday morning, he declared that programmes for teaching Quran would be arranged at the district level all over the province to promote Islamic enlightenment, pull the masses out of ignorance, illiteracy, backwardness, poverty, inaction and divert their energies towards healthy and constructive activities.

He hoped that the federal government would play its due role in promoting this system and would utilize its national media including electronic media for the reformation of society and education of people.

Dars-i-Tafheemul Quran was attended by thousands of people including a large number of women from all over the province. Religious scholar Dr Mohammad Irfan and Sabir Hussain Awan, MNA, also addressed the closing ceremony.

Meanwhile, addressing a public gathering at the Jamia Masjid, Kalabhat, in Haripur, the Senior Minister said people from all segments of society from NWFP had welcomed the Nizam-i-Salat introduced by the MMA government and assured their all out support in this respect.

He called upon the administration, Ulema and general people to make this system an important organ of the society so that laurels and blessings of Allah Almighty could shower upon us.

He said that 1pm has been fixed for Azan of Zuhr (noon) prayers while congregational prayers would be offered at 1.15pm. Mr Haq regretted that the opposition was endeavouring to weaken MMA and declare it a flop religio-political alliance.

He said that developmental and welfare steps taken by MMA government in education, health, water supply, communication and social and economic sectors had no parallel in the country.

He deplored that interest-free Islamic banking, introduced by MMA government, was wrongly perceived by the opposition and predicted about liquidation of all our banks and financial institutions.

The public meeting was also addressed by provincial Naib Amir of JI Mirajuddin, district Amir Lal Hussain Shah advocate and other elite of the area who eulogized steps of MMA government for Nizam-i-Salat and other measures for the reformation of society. The minister, during his visit of Abbottabad, met local representatives and officials. -PPI