AS in other parts of the country, Ashura in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was observed peacefully with reverence and fervour. For the first time, there was peace on the day in Peshawar. People sighed with relief as over the past few years they have fallen victim to acts of sabotage. The ugly incidents of previous years, particularly during Muharram, had fanned hatred between people of different sects. This year … not only did the unprecedented tight security measures help maintain a peaceful atmosphere, religious harmony, too, kept the situation normal. No doubt, people from various schools of thought appreciated the measures taken to maintain peace in Kohat, Dera Ismail Khan, Hangu and even in areas of Parachinar. …[T]he peaceful observance of Ashura was … a message for communities to promote harmony and brotherhood in order to discourage miscreants, terrorists and other anti-state elements. Religious parties and groups should realise that it is high time to come close to each other, give priority to religious harmony in order to lead the new generation on the right path and bury differences once and for all. The religious parties know well that the country is in the grip of several different crises and cannot afford hatred as internal differences can encourage terrorists and foreign aggressors.

In the prevailing situation, all people should think positively and in the best interest of the country as any irresponsible step … can result in serious consequences…. We are all citizens of the country and have responsibility to work for its solidarity, welfare and development otherwise our external enemies will find an opportunity to harm it. In the provincial metropolis, it was observed that the tight security measures, including frisking and the closure of roads, had created problems particularly for those living in sensitive localities. But the people extended their full cooperation to the law-enforcement agencies…. They showed that if they were united no saboteur could exploit them. …[I]f people … cooperate and create space for each other then the maintenance of peace would not be an issue. — (Dec 8)

Selected and translated by Ali Hazrat Bacha.