KARACHI: Body set up to maintain sectarian harmony: Ulema conventions planned
KARACHI, Feb 2: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan on Thursday announced formation of a Council of Religious Scholars at the provincial level to devise a long-term strategy for maintaining sectarian harmony.
Speaking to religious scholars hailing from different schools of thought at the Governor’s House, Mr Ibad expressed the hope that this initiative in Sindh would prove to be an example for other provinces.
Governor Ibad said that the government would fulfil its obligation of maintaining peace during Muharram.
When religious scholars complained about ban on use of loudspeakers, the governor said such steps had to be taken to ensure peace.
Mr Ibad said that the government wanted to take steps on permanent basis instead of ad hoc basis, and the Council of Religious Scholars (Ulema Council) was a beginning towards this policy.
“This will help resolve issues amicably at our own level making this province a role model,” he added.
He said that President Musharraf has assigned Dr Aamir Liaquat a special task and he would organize a conference of Ulema and Mashaikh in March.
“The Sindh government will also hold such conventions”, he said.
He praised the role of police and rangers for maintaining peace.
The city government, he said, had also assured removal of all irritants so that there is no complaint from any quarter on Ashura.
Regarding Ulema’s complaint against one Munir Shakir for blasphemy, the governor said Dr Aamir Liaquat Hussain and the home secretary have informed the President about it, and the government would take action against him.
An environment of cooperation and harmony had been created through serious efforts of the government and the situation of uncertainty and doubt that existed two to three years ago could not be seen any more, observed the governor.
He said that the police have assured proper arrangements for mourning processions.
“The government wishes to impose minimum restrictions and intends to give relaxation in earlier imposed restrictions,” he explained to the Ulema.
The governor also directed the officials to solve the problems in Pir Goth, Ghotki and Mirpurkhas as pointed out by religious scholars.
The Ulema attending the meeting included Maulana Tanveerul Haq Thanvi, Allama Shah Turabul Haq, Haji Hanif Tayyab, Allama Abbas Kumaili, Mufti Muneebur Rahman, Yousuf Qasoori, Asad Thanvi, Iftikhar Bhatti.
Adviser on Local Government Waseem Akhtar, adviser on information Salahuddin Haider, City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal, DCO Karachi Fazlur Rehman, IGP Jehangir Mirza, CCPO Niaz Siddiqui, home secretary, Brig. E Ghulam Mohammad Mohtaram, Secretary of Auqaf, Nadir Markhiani, DIG Operations Mushtaque Shah and representatives of intelligence agencies were present in the meeting.
Meanwhile, talking to a delegation of Pakistan Gem Merchants and Jewellers Association, led by its chairman Ubedulla Qadri, Ishratul Ibad said that the government would extend all possible facilities for promoting manufacture and trade of gold and jewellery in the province and directed the concerned authorities for allocating land for the purpose at Karachi and Hyderabad.
The governor directed the authorities to earmark land at the Northern bypass for the jewellery trade in Karachi.
He also praised Hyderabad for using glass in jewellery that has earned fame the world over.
The delegation apprised the governor of the required facilities and said that annually 180 tonnes of gold is used for manufacture of ornaments.—APP/PPI
