Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ameer Haider Khan Hoti has chaired a consultative jirga comprising Sunni and Shia Ulema of provincial, divisional and district authorities in connection with maintaining religious harmony and Islamic brotherhood during Muharram.
The chief minister stressed religious harmony and tolerance across the province and sustenance of unity among Muslims through spirits of patience and serenity. He said that presence of Ulema and leaders from entire factions clarify that we all are united and will remain united against enemies destabilising the country and propagating chaos in society emphasising sectarianism.
He said that current situation confronting the nation and country demand such unity and harmony. The CM said that incident of Mohmand agency was an attack on Pakistan's sovereignty and national integrity, added, attackers attacking security posts in Pakistan can't see terrorists camps in Kunar (Afghanistan), which we hinted on number of occasions and from where our areas were targeted on several occasions. He said that firing for hours long on Pakistani posts was not a mistake. He said that decisions of suspending Nato supply and evacuating Shamsi airbase within 15 days were obviously important but we being a nation must undertake more decisions and review relations with international community and reaffix those relations.
He said that the whole nation was united on the matter as if existence of the country was at danger then politics, ideologies and manifestos were meaningless. He said that it was time to adequately respond people targeting national sovereignty and survival. The chief minister lauded the efforts of Ulema and administration for maintaining environment of peace and religious harmony during Muharram and hoped that entire phases of Muharram will over peacefully. He said that the third force spreading seed of dissent among Muslims was not an individual or individuals but it was a dilemma and its followers were always in search of an opportunity to fulfil their evil designs, added, Muharram was the occasion where they can benefit.
Ameer Haider Khan Hoti lauded suggestions and recommendations of participants and said that steps were taken in the light of guidance and suggestions put up last year that proved fruitful and no untoward incident took place. He said that the Pakhtun nation has paid a huge price in struggle against terrorism, blood of innocent people was dropped in mosques and Imam Bargahs but despite this we were still ready for dialogues for the sake of peace with people who give up extremism and live peaceful life.
The chief minister cited suggestion of Syed Zahir Shah, and said that permanent solution to the problems during Muharram will be pursued and directed concerned authorities for defining procedure to implement the suggestion. He assured that the provincial government will fulfil its entire responsibilities in this connection. He lauded role of peace committees.
He assured that provincial, divisional and district administrations will fully back entire Ulemas' organisations involved in maintaining religious harmony, and environment of peace and tranquillity. Senior provincial minister Bashir Ahmad Bilour, provincial ministers Mian Iftikhar Hussein, Syed Zahir Ali Shah, Syed Qalb Hasan and Qazi Muhammad Asad, Ulema of different factions from Peshawar, D.I. Khan, Hazara and Kohat Division, office bearers religious organisations, MPAs, IGP, DIGs, Commissioners and provincial authorities were also present on the occasion. Bashir Ahmad Bilour, Mian Iftikhar Hussein, Syed Zahir Ali Shah, Javed Ibrahim Paracha, Allama Ramzan Tauqeer, Qazi Ghulam Mujtaba, Syed Hamid Shah and others also addressed the gathering and offered workable recommendations for maintaining peace and tranquillity, religious harmony and unity during Muharram like it did the previous year.