KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that to maintain peace, tranquility and law and order during the holy month of Moharramul Harram, particularly from 1 to 10 Moharram was his top priority.
Presiding over a meeting of Shia ulema here at the CM House Monday, he said he held a number of meetings with ulema of different schools of thought to develop censuses to implement code of conduct worked out in consultation with religious scholars and the government.
The meeting was attended by Dr Qayoom Soomro, IG Police AD Khwaja, Additional IGs, Dr Sanaullah A Home Secretary Riaz Hussain Soomro . Allama Abbas Kumeli, Allama Ali Akbar Naqvi, Allama Maqsood Domki, Shabbar Raza, Jafer Turani and others.
The ulema raised some issues such a prolonged load-shedding, dilapidated roads, water shortage and over flowing gutters, NOCs for new juloos, and taking out names of some of their ulema/zakir from IV schedule.
The chief minister said that he was going to Islamabad to attend National Action Plan meeting tomorrow.
He assured them that he would take up the issue of load-shedding with federal minister for Water & Power to exempt the cities and towns from load-shedding during 1 to 10 Muharram. “I am sure it would be done, he said and directed Commissioner Karachi to hold a meeting with water board and ensure provision of water to majalis areas and repair chocked gutter system.
He said that the permission for new mourners’ procession could not be allowed during this Muharram but from next Muharram they would be accommodated. “It become our ultimate responsibility to provide security to majalis and jaloos, therefore, new jaloos may not be taken during the Muharram and we would adjust them in our security plan in the next Moharram,” he assured.
Talking about loud speaker usage, the chief minister said that there was no ban on using loud speakers when a Zakir delivers his khutba but playing a recorded speech on tape recorder is not allowed. This may be avoided. The ulema assured the chief minister of their support and cooperation.
The chief minister directed his special assistant on Religious Affairs, Dr Qayoom Soomro to coordinate with the ulema of Shia community and process some of their recommended names of ulema to remove them from the list of Schedule -IV. “We cannot put leading ulema on the schedule -IV, let them address majalis,” he said and directed IG police to consider them.
On the directives of the chief minister, the Religious Affairs Department has set up a Coordination/Complaint Cell with land lines No. 021-99217343, 021-99217343 and personal number of Dr Qayoom Soomro 03028551245 to receive complaints.
Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah chaired a coordination committee meeting of Thar Coal Block-II executors and the public representatives of the villagers of Islamkot Taluka to address their grievances.
The meeting was attended by Special Assistant to CM for Minorities Dr Khatu Mal Jevan, Additional Chief Secretary (dev) Mr Waseem, Secretary Energy Agha Wasif, Secretary Finance Hassan Naqvi and representatives of SECMC. Mr Khatu Mal raised an issue that the Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC) was releasing water being oozing out of the mines being dug in Block-II of Thar Coal at Islamkot in an open areas near Gorano Village. If this practice is continued the water wells of the village would turn brackish.
The chief minister directed Secretary Energy, SECMC and other concerned to remove the grievances of the villagers and provide them a separate RO plant, if necessary. “The pond being developed at Gorani village can be lined or another arrangement, in consultation with concerned villagers must be made,” he said.
He also directed Dr Khtu Mal to arrange a meeting of SECMS and villagers at Mithi and then at the Site where water is being released and settled all the issues. He directed the SECMC to provide jobs according to the qualification of locals in their company.—APP
