CHARSADDA, March 30 Local religious leaders have criticised the ban on seven FM radio stations in the district saying the channels were airing translation of the Holy Quran and highlighting religious issues.

According to Mufti Abdullah Shah, a religious scholar of Charsadda, the channels were airing non-controversial religious issues which benefited thousands of people.

He said Islam is a religion of peace and no one had the right to stop people from imparting religious education.

District chief of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (F) and former MNA Maulana Gohar Shah said his party would announce a line of action against the government`s decision.

He urged the government to lift the restrictions on FM radio stations. In a joint statement issued here, Majlis Tahafuz-i-Ulema and Madaris district chief Maulana Ghulam Mohammad Sadiq, Maulana Mohammad Idrees and Maulana Gohar Shah alleged that some elements in the government were bent upon damaging the cause of Islam and Muslims.