The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of Punjab Police has expressed concern over the breach of ban on the use of loud speakers in mosques and other places as a measure to maintain inter-religious harmony. According to sources, the department wrote to the Punjab government that the loud speaker act had been violated at 177 mosques and other places since July this year but the local administration, district government and the police had not taken any effective action in this regard.
According to a report sent to the Rawalpindi Additional Inspector General (AIG) and Punjab home department, only one case was registered in Rawalpindi district while three cases were registered in Attock district in the Rawalpindi division so far for defying the ban on unnecessary use of loud speakers. It was suggested in the report that the loud speaker act should be strictly implemented under the backdrop of deteriorating law and order situation in the country and urged the officials concerned to penalize those who were violating the act. When contacted, the Rawalpindi District Coordination Officer (DCO), Saqib Zafar said that the ban on unnecessary use of loud speakers had been implemented in the region for some time. It is important to mention here that the use of loud speakers in mosques was only allowed for Azaan and deliverance of religious sermons before the Jumma prayers.
