Balochistan government bans religious processions

By: Abdullah Changezi

QUETTA, Pakistan: The government of Balochistan has imposed a ban on all religious and political processions for three months in all over the province with immediate effect.

The decision was taken at the provincial cabinet meeting held here under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Jam Mir Mohammad Yousuf.

“No religious and political procession would be allowed in the province during three months in the larger interest of the people,” the cabinet decided.

M. Maqsoud Damki, a spokesman for Shia Ittehad-e-Jafria that is headed by Abbas Kamli, telephoned Jafariya News Balochistan correspondent Abdullah Jangezi and informed him about the decision of the ban on religious processions.

Damki told that a deal has been struck between the government and Mutahidda Majlis-e-Amal for release of Hazrat Sajid Naqvi, head of banned Tehrik-e-Islami that is named after TJP and also includes in Mutahidda Majlis-e-Amal, and another leader Jan Ali Kazmi, and they have accepted ban on religious processions in return. The same was revealed on Muharram 24, 25 but those two processions were taken out.

“We condemn this act and will hold Chehlam (40th day after martyrdom of Imam Hussein (A.S.)) processions,” the spokesman told.

END