RAWALPINDI: The Taleemul Quran seminary in Raja Bazaar has announced that it would remain closed for two days even though the police had requested its administration to observe vacations from Muharram 7 to 10.

The seminary, a mosque, imambargahs and more than 100 shops were burnt down in sectarian clashes on Ashura in 2013.

This year, Ashura falls on Friday and to avoid any law and order situation the police and local administration are making arrangements.

The police have asked the seminary to send its students to their hometowns for four days and close the Madressah from Muharram 7 to 10. The seminary administration sought time to consult with religious scholars of the city.

Police want the madressah to observe holidays from Muharram 7 to Ashura

“The seminary will be closed for two days. For the last five years, we have kept the institution closed for two days on Ashura,” Taleemul Quran Administrator Maulana Ashraf Ali told Dawn.

“This year too we will close the seminary voluntarily due to the prevailing law and order situation in the country.” He said the Friday congregation would be held as per routine in the mosque.

He was of the view that all the citizens had to play their role to avoid any untoward situation and maintain peace. “We have played our role and decided to observe vacations,” he said.

City Police Officer (CPO) Abbas Ahsan told Dawn that the police were making arrangements to maintain peace during Muharram and in this regard the Taleemul Quran administration had been requested to give leaves to its students from Muharram 7 to 10.

He said megaphones would not be allowed in the district under the National Action Plan, especially during Muharram and for Friday congregations. He said to avoid any untoward incident, special arrangements had been made. All religious scholars have been requested to help the administration and police maintain peace.

A senior official of the local administration said control rooms would be set up at the offices of the deputy commissioner and the Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation (RMC) which would be connected with Punjab Home Department from Muharram 7.

He said more than 400 security cameras had been installed on the route of Ashura processions starting from Imambargah Yaadgar-i-Hussain, Satellite Town; Imambargah Balti, Angatpura; Imambargah Col Maqbool Hussain, College Road; Imambargah Hifazat Ali, Bohar Bazaar; Imambargah Chamanzar Colony; Shah Chan Chiragh, Sadiqabad, and culminating at Imambargah Qadeemi at Jamia Masjid Road.

On the other hand, Rawalpindi Traders Association President Sharjeel Mir urged the government to make arrangements for the security of markets as during the 2013 violence the traders suffered a loss of Rs92 million.

He said traders were helping the police and the administration in maintaining peace.

Published in Dawn, September 16th, 2018