Something must be fishy now-a-days in Pakistan’ ministry of religious and Hajj affairs that’s why questions are being raised on some developments which may not be promoting harmony among various sects, instead being bent upon to destroy the same. First came the form which the Hajj pilgrims need to complete for the upcoming Hajj this September. It’s being claimed on social media that the forms issued by ministry require the pilgrims to declare whether they are Shia. As such a declaration was never part of Hajj forms in the past; therefore, questions were raised on the viability of such declaration. It was claimed that such declaration has been added as asked by Saudis. However, Saudi Ministry of Hajj has clarified that it’s a false claim ‘as Kingdom does not differentiate between pilgrims according to their race, nationality, or Islamic sect’. Apparently such a declaration was a brainchild of some evil mind to cause a conflict on a blessed event.
Then came the enforcing of unified system for Azan (call for prayer) and Namaz (prayer) in Islamabad while knowing very well that this may not be acceptable to some sects per their interpretation of prayer timings. Again there were voices criticising the whole scheme as being implemented without taking other sects on board.
What I have failed to understand is why the ministry is getting into sectarian conflicts. It’s time to join ranks and show unity, not to put an already stretched sectarian fabric of the Pakistani society to further tests.
MASOOD KHAN
Jubail, Saudi Arabia
