Shia groups announce holding Muharram rallies under SOPs

Leaders of key Shia groups on Sunday conveyed to the federal and Sindh governments that they would bring out processions in Muharram to pay homage to Imam Hussain (RA) and other martyrs of Karbala.

The resolve was expressed by top Shia clerics during a press conference organised by the Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) in Federal B Area. Shia scholars, including MWM chief Allama Nasir Abbas Jaffery, Allama Hasan Zafar Naqvi, Allama Razi Jaffer Naqvi and Allama Baqir Zaidi, trustees of various mosques and Imambarghas, and officials of various scout bodies attended the press conference.

They said the government had the right to ensure the implementation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the prevention of Covid-19 but it could not ban religious activities of any community.

“Mourners’ processions will be held with religious zeal and fervour,” said MWM’s Jaffery. “People will attend the procession after taking all precautionary measures under the SOPs”. The Shia leaders also condemned the registration of cases against the mourners last year for taking out processions, stating that the cases were against the country’s constitution.

They said the Punjab government was continuously showing prejudice by registering serious cases against the mourners. “Even minors under the age of eight to 14 years have been imprisoned for mourning. Such lawlessness in the name of law is intolerable,” said a Shia scholar.

Expressing concern over the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan, the Shia leaders asked the rulers of Pakistan to play their role for peace in the region. Jaffery said the country had badly suffered in the past because of the previous Afghanistan policy.