HARIPUR, Feb 12: Deputy Speaker of National Assembly Sardar Mohammad Yaqub has said that sectarian differences and disunity among Muslims has weakened them.

He said this while speaking at the Imam Hussain conference organized by the Ittehad Bainul Muslimeen committee of Haripur here on Thursday.

Sardar Mohammad Idrees, provincial minister for local bodies, and MPA Qazi Mohammad Asad were also present on the occasion.

The deputy speaker said that sectarian conflict had rendered irreparable loss besides earning a bad reputation for the country.

"When we can join hands for government why not for the sake of brotherhood, integrity and respect for the country," Mr Yaqub said, urging the ulema to play their role in bringing unity among the people.

He said that prayer leaders had a key role to play in this regard because they could mould people's opinions.

The deputy speaker urged the people to exhibit unity during Muharram and help crush miscreants who were out to disturb peace.

The provincial Minister for Local Government, Sardar Mohammad Idrees, said that the MMA's government had established sectarian unity which was evident from the fact that there was not even a single incident of sectarian conflict in the Frontier province during the past two years.

He said that the provincial government was fully prepared to ensure security and peace during Muharram.

The minister also stressed on the need of cooperation on part of the public.

ADMINISTRATORS : Meanwhile, talking to newsmen, Sardar Mohammad Idrees said that the government would soon appoint administrators in place of tehsil and district nazims in the NWFP.