Set up Azadari CRs: Bokhari tells govt at Press Conference

By: Salman Alvi

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Syed Shujaat Ali Bokhari, Convener Tehreek Nafaz-e-Fiqh-e-Jafariya Central Muharram Committee Azadari Cell, has demanded from the government to form Muharram Azadari Control Rooms in Ministry of Religious Affairs, and all the four provinces including Northern Areas and Azad Kashmir, like Ministry of Interior and direct them to keep in contact with the TNFJ Muharram Committee Azadari Cell so as to resolve the problems confronted to Azadaran and ensure law and order situation in motherland Pakistan.

He said the President and the Prime Minister should take strict notice of ministers’ meetings with banned groups that is open violation of Anti-Terrorism Act and tantamount to strengthening terrorists, and get Anti-Terrorism Act strictly implemented to ensure law and order situation in the country.

He stated this at a crowded Press Conference at Islamabad Press Club here on Monday.

Bokhari while demanding implementation of Code of Azadari issued by Quaid-i-Millat-i-Jafariya Agha Syed Hamid Ali Shah Moosavi said, Hazrat Imam Hussain ibne Ali (A.S.) not only defended religion and Shariah rather by presenting the sacrifice of his 72 near and dear ones caused human dignity to reach acme, that is why Nawasa-e-Rasool Hazrat Imam Hussain (A.S.) is remembered by all Masalik and Makatib without any discrimination.

As per saying of Quaid-i-Millat-i-Jafariya Agha Syed Hamid Ali Shah Moosavi Azadari is Zikr-e-Hussain (A.S.) which in fact is Zikr-e-Rasool-us Saqalain (SAW) and promise of Allah that We have descended this zikr and only We are its Protector. 1,400 years have gone, Zikr-e-Hussain (A.S.) is not only in continuation rather there is a day-by-day increase in its freshness, which is a miracle.

Therefore, Azadari arrangements should also be made for those who are detained in jails, while employees of police, army and other government organisations should also be given an opportunity to participate in Azadari programmes. Extra holiday on 11th Muharram should be given as 10th Muharram public holiday falls on Sunday this year. Moreover, he said, also the Local Governments should announce holidays for 7th and 8th Muharram on local level so as to make room for those who desire to perform worship (Muharram religious rites) in their native cities from scattered areas.

Answering a question, he lamented that the holy month of Muharram-ul-Haram had been presented as ‘hawwa’ (bugbear) during the Zia’s tyrant rule and this practice is still going on. He said why Peace Committees are not formed during Ramazan and on other occasions of the year?

He said the government should check those elements who desire to achieve their nefarious designs by spreading fear and harassment under a well thought-out plan. He said if the government takes real representatives of Makatib in confidence, make policies in consultation with them and do not make herself hostage in the hands of a handful terrorists then no power could play with the people’s power and neither could draw differences in the ranks of Shia or Sunni Makatib.

The TNFJ Azadari Cell Convener expressed his concern that government has not yet replied dozens of letters and mails sent for Muharram arrangements. He asserted that we always have given preference to the interests of the nation and the country. We are noble and peaceful people, but it doesn’t mean that we are weak. This must be in mind that it were we who had taken control of Islamabad Secretariat for our constitutional and religious rights, and launched eight-month agitation in the strictest period of martial law. But all this was done in a peaceful manner, and we would keep continue our struggle for our rights in a peaceful manner in future because example of all makatib residing in Pakistan is that of a bouquet. We would not let anyone to splinter this bouquet, and would foil every conspiracy of joint enemy practically displaying unity and brotherhood with the support of Muhammad (SAW) and Aal-e-Muhammad (A.S.).

For more than a quarter century, the only representative organization of Maktab-e-Tashayyo Tehreek Nafaz-e-Fiqh-e-Jafariya’s Central Muharram Committee remains active throughout the year to control azadari program, and attention of federal and provincial governments are called to arrangements before advent of Muharram-ul-Haram.

During first three years of President General Pervez Musharraf era, the government kept a contact with us and also Control Rooms were set up on federal and provincial level as well as in Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas. But, Jamali government which came to power after elections was the first government which did not pay heed despite making her acquainted time and again which resulted in giving opportunities to terrorists. Therefore, grand incidents took place or were caused to happen in Baluchistan and Sindh.

Though the whole world is in the grip of terrorism but Pakistan is confronted with it for the last 25 years. May God do well with President Pervez Musharraf who keeping in view the interests of the nation and the country and on our demands took important steps to eradicate terrorism. Anti-Terrorism Act is on the top of the list of his these steps. Terrorist outfits were banned causing a decrease in terrorism for some time. Later, some opposition parties provided umbrella of alliances to the banned groups. This was their problem, but surprising is this that the government which had banned terrorist outfits, her ministers hold meetings with the same groups, make them sit their right and left and media also air them. In our sight, this is not loyalty with the motherland rather sabotaging President’s Anti-Terrorism measures. We do not have personal enmity for anyone, but keep interests of the nation and the country dearest.

We not only set up Azadari Cells, as we used to do in past, for peaceful holding of Muharram-ul-Haram programs, but also publicized them through newspapers according to our capacity. But, current Premier Shaukat Aziz who is a noble man, none of his government from top to toe contacted us, neither they responded any of our letters and nor set up cells, however we have been informed through fax from Interior Ministry’s National Management Cell that Control Room has been formed in the ministry. We are thankful for this. As sending salam is sunnah and its reply is obligatory, similarly reply to a letter is compulsory.

Bokhari said that ignoring such a big power on the part of a government which claims democracy is not sound. It must be known that Pakistan is not a State of any particular sect, rather it is Islamic Republic, therefore respect for all and making all to walk with is constitutional and moral demand wherein lays protection of nation and the country and restoration of peace, and by doing so we could thwart every conspiracy of joint enemy.

TNFJ Central Secretary Information Syed Qamar Haider Zaidi, Deputy Secretary Muharram Committee Bu-Ali Mehdi and Muharram Committee Azadari Cell Federal Area Secretary Allama Guftar Hussain Sadqi were also present on the occasion.

END