LARKANA: Officials of admin­istration and law enforcement agencies have urged ulema to exercise tolerance and forge harmony by desisting from delivering controversial and provocative speeches to help maintain peace during Muhar­ram-ul-Haram.

They sought help of ulema of different schools of thought and their followers in foiling terrorists’ designs and warned that no one would be allowed to disturb peace during the month.

Larkana Commissioner Mohammad Abbas Baloch who chaired a meeting at Darbar Hall on Thursday asked religious leaders to keep an eye on anti-social elements and educate people to respect each other’s religious beliefs.

He said that all procession routes would be monitored and provided foolproof security. The Sukkur Electric Power Company had assured that there would be no loadshedding during the month, he added.

Larkana deputy inspector general of police Abd­ullah Shaikh termed Shi­kar­pur and Jacobabad sensitive districts and said that foolproof security measures had been put in place in both the cities and security in Kashmore-Kandhkot, Qambar-Shah-dad­­­kot and Jacobabad which were located along the province’s border with Balochis­tan had been bee­fed up.

Rangers’ Colonel Imtiaz said that LEAs were determined to frustrate terrorists’ designs with the help of ulema and people and urged people to exercise tolerance and deviate from provocative graffiti during the month.

He asked participants in the meeting to immediately share with security agencies if they had any information about any anti-social elements.

KHAIRPUR: A meeting of district peace committee held here late on Wednesday evening expressed resolve to implement in letter and spirit the code of conduct for Muharram issued by the Sindh government.

Khairpur Deputy Commis­sioner Mohammad Nawaz Sohu, who presided over the meeting, said the enemies of the state might attempt to destabilise the country during the month.

Therefore, he said, all citizens must extend cooperation to the administration in the implementation of the code of conduct.

People must exercise tolerance and forge unity in their ranks to defeat enemies, he said.

SSP Ghulam Azfar Mahe­sar informed the meeting that 6,000 police personnel and 800 Rangers’ jawans would perform duties in the district.

In addition, Pak Army would set up camps in Kot Diji, Hingorja and Khairpur and a Muharram emergency centre would function at command and control room at the DC office to monitor the situation, he said.

Rangers’ Colonel Zia Malhi said that no one would be allowed to disturb peace in the sensitive Khairpur district.

SUKKUR: Leader of Sindh chapter of the Shia Ulema Council Allama Syed Asad Iqbal Zaidi said on Thursday the Sindh government was creating hurdles to mourning processions, sabeels as well as self-flagellation during Muhar-ram.

At a press conference at the press club, the allama urged the Sindh government to immediately lift ban on use of loudspeaker.

Protests would be held across Sindh on Friday if their demands were not met immediately, he said.

He said that they were ready to extend cooperation to the government to ensure maintenance of peace during the month but there would be no compromise on the ritual of mourning.

Published in Dawn, September 22nd, 2017