RAWALPINDI: Punjab Minister for Law Raja Mohammad Basharat on Saturday said the government has directed district administrations across the province to revisit the lists of firebrand ulema and zakireen before imposing a ban on them.

“The old lists included many firebrand speakers who have died and to save the government from embarrassment the lists should be revised. The lists would be issued in a day or two so that religious gatherings would be made accordingly,” he told a press conference after a meeting of the Punjab Cabinet Subcommittee on Law and Order here.

The minister said there was a demand from all schools of thought to inform them about the ban on religious scholars so that they would make arrangements for the congregations.

The minister said the government had issued a code of conduct for Muharram after consultations with all religious leaders.

He said there was a dire need to start and end the mourning processions on time, adding that the organisers had been requested to implement the timetable. The subcommittee of the provincial cabinet would monitor all arrangements for Muharram, he added.

The minister asked the media not to report any news which would create sectarian violence and should play an effective role to spread the message of love and peace. He said media played a commendable role in the past in this regard.

Published in Dawn, September 1st, 2019