RAWALPINDI: The Punjab government has refused to change the traditional route of the Chehlum mourning procession which would be held on December 24.

On the other hand, the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) has decided against postponing its two-day conference (December 23 and 24) to be held in front of Madressah Taleemul Quran on the procession’s route.

Earlier on Saturday, the Punjab Cabinet Committee on Law and Order, led by Rana Sanaullah, arrived in Rawalpindi to review security arrangements for Chehlum and Christmas.

The committee informed religious leaders of the government’s stance, and requested them to postpone the conference which could spark a sectarian violence throughout the country.

They added that no one would be allowed to stop the procession, and law and order would be maintained at all costs.

However, the clerics, led by Maulana Ashraf Ali, the incharge of Madressah Taleemul Quran, initially sought more time, and on Saturday night, decided to refuse the minister’s request to delay the conference.

This decision was made after clerics held a meeting at the Purana Qila mosque near the madressah, which was attended by various clerics of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

The religious leaders said the conference aimed at expressing solidarity with victims of sectarian violence, and would be held as scheduled. A formal announcement would be made at Jamia Muhammadia, F-6, on Sunday.

“We will hold a press conference to announce our decision on Sunday in Islamabad,” Mustafa Baloch, the leader of ASWJ Islamabad, told Dawn.

“We discussed the provincial government’s message and decided that we were not holding the conference against anyone. We only want to express solidarity with the victims,” he said.

Similarly, Maulana Ashraf Ali said there were no plans to change the venue or time of the conference.

Meanwhile, a peace committee held a meeting at the office of SP Rawal Town on Saturday which was attended by the Chehlum procession committee, traders and clerics of various sects.

SP Rai Zamir informed the participants that there would be no change in the route. He said no group would be allowed to lead the traditional procession and the timetable would be followed strictly.

Traders’ Association president Sheikh Siddique said the government was using backdoor channels to convince clerics to postpone the conference, and the issue would likely be resolved on Sunday.