PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has banned movement of 215 religious scholars, including 76 belonging to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, to avert any untoward incident during Muharram in the province.

An official statement said here on Saturday that of these ulema 106 belonged to Punjab, 16 Sindh, nine Balochistan, three Azad Kashmir and five to Islamabad Capital Territory.

It said that the movement of these ulema had been restricted to the districts of their living only and they were not allowed to visit other districts of the province.

However, these ulema are at liberty to prefer an appeal to the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa against this order, if they so desire.

The provincial government has appreciated the arrangements for security of the people and hoped that the law and order situation would remain peaceful.

It was stated that many of the firebrand speakers/ulema were acting in a manner prejudicial to the public safety and maintenance of public order in the province during Muharram.

The statement said that there were reasons to believe that these ulema would make inflammatory speeches or indulge in activities prejudicial to the public safety and maintenance of order in the province.

It said that such speeches might promote feelings of hatred and abhorrence among different sects and thus pose a threat to the law and order situation.

The provincial government claimed that it had completed preparations and was on high alert for the forthcoming Muharram.

The government has also decided to ban the entry of all foreigners working with firms/companies/INGOs, NGOs, and UN bodies into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa due to the Muharram as a precautionary measure for maintenance of the law and order situation.

In this connection, the Home and Tribal Affairs Department has also requested the federal government and the relevant quarters to issue necessary instructions to all concerned.

Published in Dawn, October 26th, 2014