HANGU, Feb 25: The district government will observe a ‘peace week’ from March 1 with a view to maintaining harmony among the people during the forthcoming festival of Nauroz and the Islamic month of Muharram, said the district Nazim, Pir Haider Ali Shah, here the other day.

The Nazim, addressing a conference arranged by the National Research and Development Foundation (NRDF) on ‘Peace, tolerance and understanding,’ announced that compensation would be given to the families of all those killed during the last year’s sectarian killings during Nauroz in March.

Other speakers stated that the true teachings of Islam about peace and tolerance should be highlighted to dispel the impression that Islam preached violence. An eminent Islamic scholar, Dr Farooq, quoted various verses of the Holy Quran, and said: “Islam has not authorised an individual to announce jihad and only state is empowered to do so.”

The Nazim said Hangu was a sensitive area and such conferences could help defuse tension among different sects. The ‘peace week’ would include processions, conferences and other activities, he further said, and was aimed at avoiding the reoccurrence of sectarian violence.

Haider said: “Hangu is our home and all the people should shun their petty differences so as to turn this district into an exemplary area.”

He recalled that scores of people were killed last year and markets remained closed for more than two months of curfew. The ultimate sufferers of the closures of the markets were the people of Hangu, he reminded the participants of the conference.

About peace and tolerance, Farooq said the Holy Quran was very much clear on the issue, and pointed out that Allah Almighty “wants peace in the universe and has ordained the faithful not to indulge in violence.”

Instead of blaming the west for the miseries of the Muslim world, he said: “We should also examine our faults.”

The conference was also addressed by Hangu Jamaat-i-Islami chief Fida Salis, NRDF coordinator Iltaf Khan, Sheharyar Khan and others.

SOCIAL WELFARE COMPLEX: Zila Nazim Pir Haider Ali Shah has ordered the setting up of a social welfare complex in Hangu city and allocated a sum of Rs1.2 million for the project.