Naqvi vows crackdown on sectarian content online as Muharram Peace Committee meets in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry on Tuesday chaired a special meeting of the Paigham-i-Aman Committee to discuss arrangements for Muharram and measures to curb sectarian incitement. Muharram is a month of mourning, observed in particular by Shia Muslims worldwide. It commemorates the Battle of Karbala in 680AD, where, amongst many, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), Imam Husain (RA), was martyred. The first of Muharram will fall on Wednesday, June 17 while Ashura will be observed on June 26. The committee discussed in detail steps to promote inter-sect harmony and religious tolerance during Muharram. It decided that action would be taken against those spreading incitement and sectarianism on social media. Naqvi said maintaining strong and sustained contact with the ulema was among the ministry’s priorities. “The Paigham-i-Pakistan Committee will be made active and effective down to the district level,” he said. He said public awareness against terrorism and extremism in light of the Holy Quran and Sunnah was the need of the hour, noting: “There is no room in Islam for rebellion against the state and spreading chaos. The ulema should guide the public in this regard.” The minister announced that a coordinator would be appointed for the peace committee and termed the maintenance of law and order during Muharram a “collective responsibility”. Naqvi also credited Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif with leading Pakistan’s role in US-Iran negotiations, which contributed to the announcement of an agreement on Monday. He added that Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir played a key role “as captain on the ground” and said all officials, including himself, had performed their duties “like team players”. “A historic agreement between the two countries was reached as a result of this teamwork,” he said. He added that CDF Munir was a personal