RAWALPINDI: The administrations of Rawalpindi and Islamabad have respectively been the entry of 180 and 17 firebrand clerics hailing from various sects in their territories on account of Muharram, whereas the Pindi authorities also issued a gag order against 90 firebrand leaders to maintain law and order.

In order to maintain peace in Muharram, the Rawalpindi administration banned the entry of 180 clerics in the division and also issued a gag order against 90 clerics in four districts of the division. Of the 180 Ulemas whose entry has been banned in Rawalpindi, 46 are not allowed in Rawalpindi district, 77 in Attock, 16 in Jhelum, and 41 in Chakwal. The gag order restricted 26 clerics from speaking in Rawalpindi, 37 in Attock, 17 in Jhelum, and 10 in Chakwal.

In Islamabad, 17 clerics of various sects were banned from Islamabad for one month. The district magistrate was informed that the said clerics may indulge in sectarian activities, and deliver provocative sectarian sermons to create animosity and hatred between various religious sects, which was prejudicial to the maintenance of public peace and order.

The clerics whose entry was restricted belonged to Deoband, Barelvi, and Shia sects. They hail from Lahore, Sargodha, Kabirwala, Karachi, Rawalpindi, Gilgit-Baltistan, Multan, Chichawatni, and Lalian. One of the clerics whose entry into Islamabad was banned was placed on the Fourth Schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997.

A notification issued by the district magistrate said: “In exercise of power(s) conferred upon me under clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 5 of the West Pakistan Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, 1960 do hereby direct that above-named ulemas shall not enter, reside or remain in the revenue limits of District Islamabad for a period of one month…”. Any contravention of this order shall be punishable under section 13 of the ordinance, it added.

‘Monitor hate speech’

Likewise, the federal government also asked the chief secretaries and police chiefs of all the provinces, Azad Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan to ensure strict monitoring of all sectarian outfits associated with militancy and keep a strict on their leaders to restrict them to their respective districts till the improvement in security situation. The government issued the order because it was concerned over the circulation of hateful content on social media and increasing incidents of religious incitement.

In a communique to the province, the interior ministry directed the authorities concerned to undertake surveillance and monitoring of cyberspace for preemption and effective control of the circulation of hate material.

It further said that the country was confronted with a new wave of militancy and extremism amid the circulation of hate material on social media, and the prevailing security situation might not be able to afford any sectarian chaos in the country. It also called for community engagement initiatives, particularly through the activation of all regional, provincial, and national peace committees, along with the involvement of “elders/Ulema of different sects” to encourage intersection harmony and tolerance.

The federal government directed to ensure compliance with the direction in letter and spirit to avoid any untoward incident.

Published in Dawn, July 12th, 2024