Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousuf took up the responsibility of implementing the much-needed Nizam-e-Salat in the Federal capital, but despite the lapse of several months, little progress has been made.
Under the system, Azaan (call of prayers) and Salat (prayers) were to be offered at a fixed time irrespective of any religious sect’s inclinations or practices. This was to be done throughout the capital, and all business centres and markets were to be closed simultaneously during prayers timings.
Sources said that the implementation of Nizam-e-Salat system was not that easy. Uniting clerics of various schools of thoughts on a single platform in Pakistan is a herculean task.
On March 04, 2015, the federal government had decided in principle to implement Nizam-e-Salat system in Islamabad.
In this regard, Sardar Yousuf constituted a 10-member committee comprising Ulema and officials of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, and tasked them with preparing recommendations pertaining to the decision, while Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was to take the final decision to this effect.
The system was to be implemented first in the federal capital on a trial basis and later the federal government was to request provincial governments to introduce a uniformed Nizam-e-Salat system in their respective provinces.
Sardar Muhammad Yousaf announced the new implementation of Nizam-e-Salaat for unified prayer timings in a ceremony. However, the government could not implement the system in its true spirit despite its claim that the system had been widely accepted by clerics and the mosque administrations.
This scribe tried to contact Sardar Mohammad Yousuf for his thoughts on the issue, but despite repeated attempts, he could not be reached.
An official in the ministry of religious affairs on the condition of anonymity spoke to Pakistan Today and expressed optimism that the system would soon be implemented. He said that work was underway on the recommendations given by the 10-member committee.
He said that members of all schools of thoughts and stakeholders, including traders, are onboard in this regard, so this is no reason the system cannot be implemented in its true spirit.
He said that an important meeting is going to be held on Friday (today) with Sardar Muhammad Yousaf in the chair, wherein progress that has been made so far will be reviewed.
According to the already agreed Nizam-e-Salat, the Azan of Fajr prayer would be called at 4:10 am, while the prayer is to be offered throughout the capital at 4:40 am.
The Azan time for Zohr prayer would 1:15 pm, while the prayer is to be offered at 1:30 pm. Azan would be called at 4:49 pm for Asr prayer and prayer for Asr is to be offered at 4:59 pm.
Azan for Maghrib would be called at 6:45 pm, while prayer is to be offered at 6:47 pm.
Azan for Isha prayer is to be called at 8:15pm throughout Islamabad, while Isha prayer is to be offered at 8:40 pm.
