Government determined to promote religious harmony: minister

The Punjab Communication & Works Minister Chaudhry Muhammad Zaheer ud Din Khan has said President General Pervez Musharraf was determined to promote religious harmony and tolerance besides highlighting the true picture of religion Islam on international level.
He urged the Ulema and Mashaikh belonging to different schools of thought to extend their maximum co-operation to President General Pervez Musharraf so that true Islamic concept about the Muslims as the upholders of peace and respect for humanity could be brought forward and the wrong impression and misconceptions about Muslim Ummah could be got rid of.
He stated this while addressing the members of District Peace Committee at Circuit House. District Nazim Chaudhry Zahid Nazir, DCO Tahir Hussain, DPO Captain Muhammad Amin (Retd), Senior Administrative officer Dr Tariq Sardar, DDO City Ahad Cheema (Retd)and Ulema belonging to different schools of thought were also present on this occasion.
The minister said that the maintenance of law and order was among the top priorities of Chief Minister Punjab and in the light of his directives comprehensive security arrangements had been made to keep the law and order situation under control during the month of Muharram.
He urged the Ulema to continue their efforts for the maintenance of sectarian harmony. Lauding the pleasant atmosphere of unity and co-operation existing among the different sects in Faisalabad district, he said that District Peace Committee was rendering in valuable services and it had successfully tackled with the certain religious problems and delicate situations through mutual co-operation, understanding and wisdom.
He hoped that this practical demonstration of love, fraternity, unity and tolerance would not only flourish in whole of the country but the message of peace and religious tolerance would also spread in the entire Islamic world.
Appreciating the will and determination of the religious intellectuals and Ulema belonging to different sects which they had shown for the promotion of goodwill, mutual unity and religious harmony, the District Nazim Chaudhry Zahid Nazir said that the religious and national services being rendered by peace Committee Faisalabad were worth following by the other districts.
Giving the details of the plan made by the district Government regarding arrangements made in connection with Muharram he said that the setting up of Rescue-15 at Chowk Clock Tower would prove helpful for the maintenance of law and order and security matters.
He further said that arrangement had also been made to monitor the main processions of Taazia and Zuljinnah through close circuit cameras besides their recording so that an eagle's eye could be kept on mischievous elements.
He said that special arrangements had been made at Allied and District Headquarters hospital for the medical treatment of mourners.
Addressing the meeting, Pir lbrahim, Allama Tahir-ul-Hassan, Rana Khalid Mahmood, Syed Jaafar Hussain Naqvi, Maulana Amjad Ali Amjad, Syed Kausar Shah, Maulana Muhammad Yousaf Anwar and other Ulema besides putting forth some suggestions reaffirmed their determination for the maintenance of religious tolerance and peace in the city.
It was told on this occasion that on Friday night, setting a bright example of religious harmony and unity, Ulema belonging to different schools of thought; including Maulana Muhammad Yousaf Anwar, Pir Muhammed Ibrahim, Allama Tahir-ul-Hassan, Qari Hanif Bhatti, Irshad Ali Zardari and others who were not Ahle Tashee attended a Majlis-e-Azzaarr arranged by Syed Kausar Hussain shah at "Aastana-e-Haider-e-Karrar" Satiana Road and expressed their complete solidarity with their Ahle Tashee brotherin which was very encouraging for the elimination of sectarianism Provincial Minister Chaudhry Zaheer ud Din Khan, District Nazim Chaudhry Zahid Nazir and other officers highly appreciated Ulema's sentiments to broadmindedness welfare and good intentions.
Meanwhile, According to police sources, 124 places in the district have been declared sensitive. Tight security arrangements have been made around these places to avoid any untoward incident.