RAWALPINDI: Tehreek Nafaz Fiqh-i-Jafariya (TNFJ) Pakistan chief Allama Agha Syed Hussain Muqaddasi has announced a mourning code for Muharram and called for all possible measures to ensure peace and brotherhood.

Addressing a press conference, he said the sanctity of the month is acknowledged in every religion and school of thought, and the purpose of Karbala was to connect the Ummah with the path of light and righteousness.

For the survival of religion and Sharia, he added, the supreme Imam saved human sanctity by making an eternal sacrifice in Karbala. He said if Muslims were united, the colonial powers would have failed. Libya, Yemen, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and other Muslim countries were targeted, but Muslim countries remained silent.

He hailed Iran for standing up before the powers of imperialism in the shape of Israel and USA, forcing them to request for a ceasefire.

Stresses full implementation of NAP and prevention of banned groups from working under new names

Explaining the mourning code, he said the federal and provincial governments should establish Muharram control rooms from the federal to the tehsil levels to facilitate the mourners, resolve possible issues promptly and ensure peace and order. These control rooms should be directed to stay connected with the Muharram Committee Mourning Cell of TNFJ.

He emphasised that scholars, reciters and preachers should convey the message of Hussainiyat in a positive manner and prioritise the promotion of unity and solidarity over everything else. They should adhere to the principle of not abandoning their own faith and refraining from interfering with the beliefs of others, thereby ensuring complete respect for each other’s religion, beliefs and ideologies.

The media, he urged, should highlight the sacrifices of the martyrs of Karbala and commemorate the 10 days of Karbala with due reverence and sanctity.

“Music, dramas and educational programmes should not be played during Ashra Muharram; lighting and cleanliness should be arranged on the routes of gatherings and processions and loadshedding of electricity and gas should be avoided during gatherings and processions,” he said.

He called for the full implementation of every clause of the National Action Plan and that banned groups should be prevented from working under new names, and no one should be allowed to take the law into their own hands. The unjust and unconstitutional rules and regulations (SOPs) on restrictions on mourning imposed by the home department of the Punjab should be withdrawn immediately.

“No such order should be implemented that deprives the constitutional rights of the citizens and makes it difficult for them to perform mourning rituals. The administration should be directed to cooperate with the organisers of gatherings and processions. The organisers of gatherings and processions should also ensure security arrangements for cooperation with law enforcement agencies. In this regard, the services of Mukhtar Force Volunteers and Ibrahim Scouts volunteers should be sought. Preventive security measures should be taken at sensitive places,” he said.

He asked the administration to ensure and, if necessary, hand over such areas to the army. The government should keep a close watch on those spreading hatred on social media and bring them to justice. Do not collect money and food without verification. Vehicles should be allowed to go to the mourning venues after a thorough search and verification. The TNFJ head said political parties should suspend their political activities during the 10 days of Muharram and give priority to the memory of the great Imam Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS).

Published in Dawn, June 28th, 2025