To ensure security during Muharram-ul-Haram, the Islamabad administration banned religious speeches and sermons by Islamic scholars from different schools of thought within the city on Thursday. According to media reports, the administration has imposed restrictions on a total of 27 scholars following the recommendations of the Islamabad police. As per the channel report, the ban includes prominent figures such as Maulana Abdul Aziz, Maulana Abdul Razzaq, Qari Waseem Abbasi, Rizwan Saifi, Allama Shifa Najafi, Allama Tahir Ashraf, Maulana Muhammad Ilyas, and Abdul Khaliq. It is also pertinent to mention here that the federal government has already given its approval to deploy Pakistan Army troops in the capital territory and all four provinces of the country during Muharram.

The government in order to ensure foolproof security in Muharram has invoked Article 245 of the Constitution for the deployment of Army soldiers in all the provinces. The decision was taken on the requests of all provinces seeking Army deployment to assist the civil armed forces and police. Army soldiers will also be on Muharram guard in Islamabad, Azad Kashmir, and Gilgit Baltistan. The Interior Ministry also issued a notification regarding the deployment of Pakistan Army soldiers. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi called a special meeting to review the security arrangements for Muharram last Monday, and Islamabad IGP Ali Nasir Rizvi will brief the meeting about the security plan for the federal capital.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan