Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Monday stressed the need for maintaining unity and harmony during the month of Muharram.
Presiding over a meeting to review the security arrangements for Moharram, he said that Islam is a religion of peace and strict action would be taken against those spreading hatred and sectarianism. He further said that assembly members and officials should play a proactive role in managing security during the holy month.
Addressing the meeting, the chief minister said that Punjab government has evolved a solid strategy for maintaining law and order during Moharram and the situation is being closely watched with the cooperation of religious scholars and speakers. He said that strict action is being taken against those who are providing lodging at hotels, guest houses and inns to guests without checking their national identity card and it has been made binding upon the owners to not allow anyone without their original ID cards to stay at their hotels, guest houses or inns. He said that action is being taken against those delivering provocative speeches while a complete ban has been imposed on the publication of objectionable literature. He further directed that the ban on graffiti should be strictly imposed. The chief minister directed that four-tier security arrangements should be ensured for Majalis and mourning processions while parking arrangements should be made at a distance from the security cordon. He said that debris lying on the routes of mourning processions should immediately be removed whereas arrangements for generators, streetlights and cleanliness should be finalised. He said that the routes of mourning processions should be cleared only after thorough checking. He said that there should not be any negligence in the checking of the participants of Majalis and religious processions through metal detectors and scanners. The chief minister ordered suspension of the concerned jail superintendent on the complaint of violation of the ban on the use of mobile phones in prison and directed IG Jails to ensure strict implementation of this ban in prisons. He directed that police and law enforcement agencies should perform their duties efficiently during Moharram and no one should be allowed to pass the security cordon without checking. Shahbaz further directed that observance of the timings fixed for the start and end of processions should be ensured.
He also directed that all out measures should be taken for extending foolproof security cover to Yuam e Aashur processions while the patch work of roads on the routes of mourning processions should be immediately completed.
CM condemns Israel’s atrocities
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Monday condemned the news reports that Israel is planning on expanding its operations in Gaza.
In a Facebook post, he said, “I wonder what more the brutal forces of Israel want from Gaza. They have killed dozens of people, innocent men, women and children. When PML-N, under the government of Nawaz Sharif, conducted nuclear tests, these so-called custodians of peace did not hesitate to impose sanctions on us. Where are these custodians of peace now? Why is this atrocity being allowed to happen under the noses of the very people who preach peace and democracy?”
