- Policemen bar eminent Shia scholar Allama Jawad Naqvi’s security guard from entering majlis, seize weapon and license
Mishandling of security operations by policemen deployed at the Mohammadi Masjid Imambargah in Gulberg’s Hali Road area on Thursday night created a security situation in the packed congregation, and led to restrictions on the majlis sermons of Jamia Urwatul Wusqa’s eminent religious scholar Allama Syed Jawad Naqvi at the venue until Youm-e-Ashur.
It all started when a policeman deployed at a picket outside the venue stopped a security guard, name being held for security purposes, of Allama Naqvi on account of possessing a 9mm pistol.
Enraged over the uncalled-for arrest, the majlis participants began protesting outside the imambargah demanding an immediate release of the security guard.
While the hubbub between the majlis participants and the police was continuing, a private news channel cameraman, excited about filming cops arresting a ‘miscreant’, got noticed by the majlis participants and was roughed up for siding with the police.
To control the situation, the Model Town SP ordered release of the guard but kept his weapon.
“I have been assigned Allama Naqvi’s security and was carrying my licensed weapon in a concealed manner. A policeman asked me to put my weapon away and refused to let me inside the premises,” said the guard, adding that soon other people noticed the verbal clash and joined them.
“They told the police I was Allama Sahib’s personal guard but the law enforcement officials pushed me in their vehicle and seized my weapon and license,” he said.
MAJLIS STOPPED:
Fettered over Thursday’s incident and police’s hullabaloo over Allama Naqvi’s security, the administration of Mohammadi Masjid has excused from hosting Allama Naqvi’s sermons any further. The speaker did not turn up at the gathering on Friday night while the administration’s spokesperson was not available for comments.
‘NOT FAIR’: A large number of Shias expressed resentment over the police high-handedness.
“The security agencies cannot protect us and now they are stopping us from protecting ourselves. It is an open secret that the government is not equipped enough to protect us and neither is it determined to do so. We all can see what happened in Quetta and even in Lahore. Shias are being targeted across the country while the government is not even allowing private security cover for our scholars,” said Abbas, who had come to attend Allama Naqvi’s gathering all the way from Rawalpindi.
“They can not stop us from listening to Agha sahib. He is delivering his lectures at other places too. I’ll approach the Jamia in Faisal Town for his majlis now,” he added.
BLAME GAME:
While the police accuse students of Jamia Urwatul Wusqa, the university headed by Allama Naqvi, for creating the chaos and roughing up the cameraman, the varsity has condemned the ‘irresponsible’ behavior of the police.
A university spokesperson told Pakistan Today that trouble ensued after the police tried to weaken Allama Naqvi’s security cover. “The TV cameraman got roughed up when the police and majlis participants clashed.”