Proscribed ASWJ’s Ludhianvi to reopen Masjid-e-Zarrar at govt expenses

The mosque and seminary from where terrorists of banned Sipah-e-Sahaba (ASWJ) attacked Shia Moharram procession in 2013 has been rebuilt at the Punjab government’s expenses that had allocated Rs240 million for their reconstruction.

The hate-mongering seminary’s administration has invited several key figures, including proscribed Ahl-e-Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) ringleader Ahmed Ludhianvi and several others as chief guest. ASWJ is mother organization of banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi.
The newly-built Taleemul Quran seminary and its attached mosque would be reopened with the permission of the district administration – on Sept 29, just a couple of days before the start of Muharram. That means a clear threat to the maintenance of peace during Moharram and threat to Shia Muslims.
The timing of the inauguration ceremony, however, has raised eyebrows among locals, with many fearing that such an event – held in such close proximity to the beginning of Muharram – may heighten tensions in the area.
Before green-lighting the inauguration, the City District Government Rawalpindi (CDGR) called a meeting of law enforcement and intelligence agencies.
A senior CDGR official told Dawn the local administration and police had been directed to ensure that speakers at the event do not indulge in hate speech.
“The local administration was worried, but the District Intelligence Committee reviewed the case and decided to let the seminary go ahead with their event, because if they denied permission, it would also create tensions in the area,” he said. This recommendation is a proof that the Pakistani authorities have bowed to Deobandi takfiris due to their loyalty to Saudi Wahhabi monarchy and despite the fact that these hate-mongers are Pakistani Taliban.
He said that the law enforcement and intelligence agencies recommended surveillance of foreign elements so that they didn’t participate in the inauguration function since in 2013, such elements played a role in inciting sectarian violence.
He said that the administration had also ensured that inauguration did not fall on a Friday, as there would be an even bigger crowd on that day on account of Friday prayers.
“The district administration and police will ensure that no banned religious leaders participate in the event, and that loud speakers are not used,” he said. But, Ludhianvi participation is a proof that he enjoys state authorities’ patronage.
In Islamic history, the mosque that promotes mischief and terrorism is called Masjid-e-Zarrar.