ICT administration also bans entry of 16 ulemas for two months. PHOTO: AFP

ISLAMABAD: The Capital administration on Monday barred 11 clerics, including Maulana Abdul Aziz of Lal Masjid and Majlis Wahda-e-Muslimeen (MWM) leader Allama Ameen Shaheedi, from delivering sermons and addressing gatherings at any public place in Islamabad.



The Islamabad Capital Territory Administration (ICTA) has also banned the entry of 16 clerics of various sects in the city limits for a period of two months. The step has been taken on the advice of the Special Branch of police to maintain peace and order in the city during Muharram. Special Branch is an intelligence wing of the police that monitors the activities of religious and political personalities.



Those banned from addressing crowds are Maulana Abdul Aziz, Maulana Abdul Razzaq Haidri, Qari Ahsanullah, Maulaba Abdur Rehman Muaviah, MWM leader Allama Ameen Shaheed, MWM secretary general Allama Nasir Abbas Jafri, Sheikh Mohsin Ali Najfi, Agha Shifa Najfi, Dr Zafar Iqbal Jalali, Maulana Liaquat Ali Rizvi, and Maulana Imtiaz Hussain Kazmi.



The 16 clerics who have been barred from entering the capital include Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) central leader Maulana Aurangzeb Farooqi, ASWJ general secretary Khadim Hussain Dhaloo, Hafiz Muhammad Daddique, Allama Tahir Ashraf, Maulana Ilyas Ghuman, Maulana Muaviah Azam, Maulana Abdul Khaliq Rehmani, Allama Ghazanfar Tunsavi, Allama Jaffar Jatoi, Zakir Maqbool Hussain, Hafiz Tasaddaq Hussain, Maulana Muhammad Iqbal, Maulana Yousaf Rizvi, Pir Irfan Al-Mashahdi, Maulana Khadim Hussain Rizvi, and Dr Asif Ashraf Jalali. All these clerics belong to Deobandi, Barelvi and Shia schools of thought.



Meanwhile, an order issued by Islamabad District Magistrate Mushtaq Ahmad said that these clerics are “sectarian agitators, firebrand speakers, and are likely to indulge in sectarian activities, deliver provocative sectarian speeches/sermons aiming to create animosity and hatred between various religious sects.”



Administration said any breakdown of law and order in the city could also be exploited by terrorists. The order comes into force at once.



Muharram security



Rawalpindi City Police Officer, Israr Ahmed Abassi, meanwhile, has assured of stringent security for the mourners and the people.



Similarly, Rawalpindi DPO Dr Muhammad Abid Khan held a meeting with Ulema from all schools of thought, at DPO office, to discuss sectarian harmony during the mourning month. He said that over 3,000 police personnel would be deputed at all Imambargahs and other sensitive areas including routes of Muharramul Haram processions.



He said that there will be 1,257 congregations and 334 processions held in the month, during which there will be a complete ban on display of arms, loudspeakers, wall chalking and publication of any inciting literature.



Published in The Express Tribune, September 27th, 2016.