Moosavi rejects ban on processions, reminds secretariat control

By: Salman Alvi

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan – April 05: Agha Syed Hamid Ali Shah Moosavi, the Tehreek Nafaz-e-Fiqh-e-Jafariya Pakistan Chief rejecting the ban by the Balochistan government on religious processions of Miladun Nabi (SAW) and Azadari has declared that hindrance in these religious processions is tantamount to treachery with religion and motherland.

He made his remarks while delivering presidential address at the Tehreek’s high-level emergency meeting here on Monday.

He appealed to the Maktab-e-Tashayyo and Ahl-e-Sunnat (Shia and Sunni communities) to make arrangements of these religious processions with reverence and fervor, keep an eye on enemies of religion and motherland, and give priority to Azadari and Miladun Nabi (SAW) over all matters.

Agha Moosavi questioned whether terrorism is committed only in religious processions? Terrorism is being carried out in jails and fields, attacks on Sialkot jail and also on President of Pakistan himself stand witness. Have all jails been brought to an end? And have Prime Minister and President cancelled all their tours?

He said this ban is a naughtiness aimed at causing harm to Maktab-e-Tashayyo and Maktab-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat, in which no one would be allowed to succeed and nobody can stop these processions, he warned.

Aaqa-e-Moosavi said we always keep in view elevation of religion and stability, survival and solidarity of beloved motherland, but our nobility must not be taken as our weakness. World knows that we took control of secretariat for our rights as well as carry out eight-month-long agitation against dictator General Zia, he asserted adding that we, this time also, would like to make clear that we will not accept anyone’s supremacy. We are admitted school of thought, we can sacrifice our lives but neither we got back from the right path in past nor will get back in future. We desire to make Pakistan Amnistan (a hub of peace), but those elements, which opposed the establishment of Pakistan, are yet acting upon their heinous agenda.

The TNFJ chief said Maktab-e-Tashayyo laid equal sacrifices in the formation of Pakistan but, save just a few governments, every ruler ignored Maktab-e-Tashayyo and tried to snatch its rights.

He inquired, is being a non-Shia condition to become head of Ro’yat-e-Hilal, or moon sighting Committee, Islamic Ideology Council and Ministry of Religious Affairs? Is it written in the constitution that a Shia cannot take charge of these above-mentioned posts?

It is very regretting that in Pakistan’s 57-year history neither any shia was given the post of chairman of these committees, nor any shia was made Minister for Religious Affairs. He said Pakistan is not a State of any particular sect or group rather a joint inheritance of all Schools of Thought, ergo the government is responsible constitutionally and nationally to care for all Schools of Thought on equal bases. He urged the need of giving the right of ideological representation to Maktab-e-Tashayyo in all fields of life including judiciary, ministries and media.

Moosavi said this point is a crystal clear proof of Tehreek Nafaz-e-Fiqh-e-Jafariya’s patriotism and love for religion that it declared observation of mourning for all martyrs after Ayyam-e-Aza besides foiling the conspiracies of those elements that are desirous of politics on corpses. Had the government, too, followed the policy and Code of Azadari of Tehreek Nafaz-e-Fiqh-e-Jafariya, motherland would not have to confront disruption and lawlessness in this manner.

He called the declaration by Premier Jamali to exclude anti-Islam and Pakistan stuff from the syllabus and re-inclusion of Quranic Verses therein as pleasing. He demanded from the Prime Minister to set up an inquiry commission forthwith to unveil those elements, which tried to include such stuff in the syllabus, which clashed religion and the motherland.

Agha Moosavi said sanctity of Chehlum Syed-ush-Shuhada (A.S.) is similar to that of Ashoura, and Ziyarat of Arbaeen is one of emblems of Momineen, therefore, he demanded from the government, to make special arrangements throughout the country on the occasion of Chehlum Syed-ush-Shuhada (A.S.) so that people may perform worship with respect and veneration, correct law and order and remove panic found in the people, make report of Quetta Tragedy Inquiry Commission public, set up Azadari Cells on federal and provincial level for solution of problems being faced by Azadaran, provide protection to the processions of Demise Anniversary of Holy Prophet (SAW), Martyrdom Anniversary of Hazrat Imam Hassan (A.S.) on Safar 28, and concluding ‘Chup Tazia’.

He appealed also to the people to recognize their friends and foes, remain vigilant and warned in order to thwart conspiracies of enemies of religion and motherland.

The meeting was attended by the Tehreek’s provincial representatives from across the country, heads and secretaries of all departments and subordinate bodies.

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