SAHIWAL: The district administration indefinitely postponed the central election of the Tanzeemul Madaris Ahle Sunnat, Pakistan, over “security concerns and violence apprehended among the contesting groups”.

The central election of the body that comprises ulema (religious scholars) heading seminaries all over the country is being contested by three main groups, respectively led by Maulana Hamid Kazmi, Mufti Munibur Rehman, Chairman, Rouat Hilal Committee and Khadim Hussian Rizvi, Qaid, Tehreek Labaik Pakistan (TLP).

The election was to be held here at Jamia Rasheediya on Sunday.

Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Zaman Watto told Dawn that there were intelligence reports of internal conflicts among the contesting parties that might disrupt peaceful atmosphere of the city.

“After analysing the situation, the district police and district administration decided against allowing the election”, DC further added.

He said since the Tanzeem had no central secretariat in Sahiwal, there was no logic of its election here. He said its registration issue had been pending with the Joint Stock Companies, Lahore, since 2016, when its election was due in Faisalabad but it was suspended then by the JSC on the request of Maulana Hamid Kazmi.

Around 2,066 voters, mostly ulema (religious scholars), Imams (prayer leaders) and muftis (those who issue religious edicts) belonging to different religious seminaries across Pakistan were expected to reach Jamia Rasheediya for casting votes.

Sources in Jamia Rasheediya told Dawn that preparations for holding the election had been made when the administration announced the poll postponement.

According to a source, Maulana Hamid Kazmi of Faisalabad had lodged an application with Joint Stock Companies, Lahore, registrar, expressing his reservations with regard to the election.

The DC also confirmed that the Maulana had filed the application. However, he said the district administration was alerted by “different quarters” with regard to possible violence by some groups contesting the election. Hence, he said, the poll had been postponed indefinitely after issuance of a notification from his office on Saturday evening.

Mufti Munib, talking to the media, condemned the district administration order of postponing the poll and said “unnecessary hurdles” were created in the process. He said ulma’s unity could not be weakened, announcing that election would be soon held as per rules and regulation of the Tanzeemul Madaris Pakistan.

Allama Khadim Hussain Rizvi of TLP also condemned the district administration, saying the poll postponement caused a great inconvenience to the candidates as well as the voters as many of them had reached Sahiwal from far-flung areas of the country.

QUADRUPLETS: A labourer’s wife on Sunday gave birth to four babies - three males and a female, at 91/6-R village.

As per the village midwife, the quadruplets and their mother were stable.

Though the father, Javed, a labourer, was happy with the births, he appealed to the government for financial assistance as he did not have enough money to raise four babies at a time.

Published in Dawn, October 14th, 2019