ISO rejects plans to limit processions, majalis

05 December, 2010 15:00

ISO rejects plans to limit processions, majalis

Imamia Students Organisation (ISO) on Saturday rejected proposals to curtail Muharram processions and majalis in different parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the name of security and said that the government should provide protection to such religious gatherings and their participants.

According to the Shiite News Correspondent,Speaking at a press conference here, ISO central information secretary Syed Hassan Kazmi said that it was duty of the government to ensure protection to life and property of every citizen.

He said that if people did not raise voice against such restrictions then one day shopping in bazaars and offering Friday prayers would also be banned in the name of security.

Mr Kazmi said that in Muharram people would express their love for Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) and rest of the martyrs and the rulers were morally bound to extend full cooperation to participants of majalis .

On the occasion, the ISO Peshawar division president Owaisul Hassan also demanded of the government to ensure protection to the participants of Muharram processions in Southern districts, particularly in Hangu and Dera Ismail Khan as per the Hangu agreement.

He said that the ISO had constituted different Imamia contingents for arranging events at educational institutions during the 10 days of Muharram, whereas the Imamia Scouts would cooperate with the concerned government department.

He suggested deployment of security forces in sensitive districts such as DI Khan and Hangu to avert any untoward incident.

He condemned a statement appearing in a section of the press that students of different universities would not be allowed to take part in the processions. He also demanded opening of roads in Hangu district.