By Shabbir Mir in The Express Tribune, May 13
GILGIT: The Gilgit-Baltistan government is likely to reinstate the tow prayer leaders arrested earlier for making hate speeches in the region’s capital city.
“The cabinet will meet in Gilgit on Monday to take up the decision in this regard and it is likely that the two central Sunni and Shia mosques that each of the clerics represent will be unsealed,” said a source privy to the development.
The decision will be based on recommendations by a parliamentary peace committee and the Masjid Board.
The two mosques were sealed following bouts of sectarian violence in Gilgit last month. The prayer leader of Gilgit’s Sunni central mosque, Qazi Nisar, has been under house arrest since.
On the other hand, the authorities have no clue about the Shia prayer leader Agha Rahat’s whereabouts.
Earlier, the government had decided to send both clerics to jail, but the decision was withheld after they assured the government to abide by the code of conduct prepared by the peace committee.
The code binds prayer leaders of both central mosques from making hate-speeches or use harsh language against their rival sect’s revered personalities.
According to a committee member, Amjad Hussain, the main issues barring the reopening of the mosques have been resolved with the signing of the code of conduct, and the mosques can now be reopened without any concern.
“There were some laxities in maintaining law and order on the government’s part as well, but we have taken strict security measures to avoid any violence in the future,” he added.
Attaullah Shahab, a committee member and the adviser to prime minister, said he is personally supervising the efforts being taken for durable peace in the region and all efforts will be taken for this purpose.
G-B Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker Jamil Ahmad appreciated the cooperation of clerics with the peace committee. He said that the government is planning to draft a legislation to give legal cover to the code of conduct and the Masjid Board which is represented by a total of 20 members from both sects.
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