RAWALPINDI, March 11: The government has asked the printing presses not to print any material which promotes hatred and friction among various sects.

The District Nazim, Raja Tariq Kiani, said this while speaking at a meeting of the divisional peace committee here on Monday.

The meeting was presided over by Punjab Revenue Minister Malik Mohammad Aslam.

District Nazims of Rawalpindi, Chakwal and Attock, senior officials and ulema of various schools of thought attended the meeting.

Mr Kiani said any printing press found printing such material would be sealed and criminal proceedings initiated against its owners.

Likewise, he said, there was a complete ban on wall chalking and those doing so would be strictly dealt with according to the law.

The meeting was informed that the use of loud-speakers would be allowed only according to the requirements of the gathering.

The administrations of various Imambargahs were asked to arrange private guards to reinforce their security cover provided by the law enforcing agencies. The private guards would be provided special identity cards by the police stations concerned.

However, the meeting was told that no private guards would be allowed to accompany Muharram processions for security purposes as the police would be having its own security mechanism on these occasions.

The meeting was further informed that the processions would only be allowed to follow the traditional routes and no one would be permitted to take up a new route.

The administrations of Imambargahs were asked to invite only moderate speakers to speak at the Majalis and fully ensure implementation of the code of conduct by the speakers so that they do not hurt the feelings of any other sect.

The Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA) was directed to improve the sanitary conditions along the routes of the processions and repair the roads.

Mr Kiani said Ulema of all sects were cooperating and had assured him that they would remain peaceful during the entire period.

He said elaborate arrangements and foolproof security measures had been made by the district government for the Muharram Majalis and processions.

Majalis will be held at 1,098 places and 600 processions will be brought out throughout the district, the Divisional Peace Committee meeting was informed.

Briefing the participants of the meeting about Shah-i-Najaf massacre, the officials said they had made a major break through in the case and would be giving a detailed briefing in a few days.

The revenue minister told the clerics that maintaining peace during Muharram was the collective responsibility of the government and the Ulema, and both should work together to prevent subversive elements from fulfilling their nefarious designs.

The speakers, he said, should promote peace and harmony through their speeches.

The clerics, while speaking at the meeting, assured the government of their cooperation in maintaining law and order. They said there was complete unity among various sects and they would fully abide by the code of conduct.