Joint team comes up with measures to maintain communal harmony in Chitral
The joint team was formed after a religious party called a shutter-down strike in the Chitral bazaar against what its leaders claimed blasphemous contents uploaded on social media before the Dec 9, 2017, Chitral visit of His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan, the 49th Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims.
Three major decisions by the team are: formation of a council to maintain sectarian harmony, setting up of a cyber crime cell and action against anyone trying to take law into their hands against any suspected blasphemy case in future.The team consisted of officials of the district administration, police, Chitral Scouts and representatives of the two communities. They held a number of sessions and discussed how to deal with such issues in future and maintain sectarian harmony in Chitral. Briefing local media on Tuesday, District Police Officer (DPO) Mansoor Aman said the team members proposed ways to check misuse of the social media and promote communal harmony in Chitral. He said in the presence of stringent blasphemy laws in the country, no one would be allowed to take the law into their own hands against any suspected blasphemy case in future. The participants also agreed to constitute a conciliation council, comprising representatives from law enforcement agencies, district administration, rights activists and civil society, to promote sectarian harmony and to deal with any issue detrimental to the peaceful coexistence of the two communities in the valley. Moreover, a cyber crime cell would be set up by the district police to keep an eye on the social media contents and take action against any objectionable materials. A participant of the meeting told ChitralToday that a list of all those who had uploaded objectionable posts in social media would be handed over to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for action under the Cyber Crime Law. The screenshots of all such posts by social media users belonging to both the Sunni and Ismaili communities have already been given to the police for submission to the FIA to take action against them under the cyber crime law, he added. Among others, MPA Sardar Hussain, District nazim Maghfirate Shah, naib nazim Maulana Abdul Shakoor, retired Brig Khosh Muhammad Khan, Maulana Jamshed Ahmed, Maulana Hussain Ahmed, Muhammad Afzal, Saeed Ahmed Khan, M. Hakim Advocate attended the meetings.]]>
Highly appreciated drive, congratulation for the decision. Shamil’s suggestions carry weight.
JIT’s report is a prudent one and is in complete accordance with the Law of the Land. However, here i would like to suggest the district establishment, concerned stakeholders and the nascent “council for inter-faith Harmony” That they should give general awareness to the public about blesphemy, defamation ordinance 2000 (slander, Libel) National action plan, cyber crime, etc,etc through Masajid, Jamat khanas, Schools, colleges,seminars and other forum. after all it is the responsibility of a welfare state to educate its people before implementing its law. they must prepare a plan of action for imparting this awareness throughout the nook and corner of chitral.
A special training on the above aspect can be arranged for sermon givers in mosques, Ismaili Waizeens and institutions, representatives of schools/colleges and other relevant stakeholders so that they can in turn disseminate the acquired awareness to the general populace. Otherwise, little is know to even some leaders as to what constitute a slander, a libel and even for that matter a blasphemy. if imparting such awareness is taken seriously by relevant authorities with utmost sincerity and enthusiasm, than only we can inhibit future law and order situation in chitral, otherwise, history will repeat itself in no time. Chiteral is little place many issues can be resolved with wise and calculated steps.
Ismaili Council, Ismaili Conciliation and Arbitration Board, ismaili Tariqa and Religious Education Board are very relevant authorities in this connection. The leadership of these institution must mobilise their resources to reach to Ismaili Youth/masses and help district govt in this connection. various Sunni institution must also fully utilise the pulpit during special occasions and Jumma gathering to highlight the above aspects to educate the masses.
zara Num Ho to ye miti bohot zarkhaiz hai saqi.. is zarkhaiz miti ko numi district establishment ke taraf say muhaya ke jasakti hai..otherwise, JIT, harmony council ke kawishain, “Nishastand, Guftand, barkhastand” tak he mehdood hongay or mustaqbil may sensitivities develop honay say chitrali muashira nehi bach sakta.
We appreciate and expressing our deep happiness over the an excellent and acceptable outcome of this JIT.The DPO Mohtaram Mansoor Aman,District Nazim’ Ulama-e Karam Representatives of Ismaili Imamat Institution,Mohtaram MPA Sardar Hussain and all others who put their efforts to resolve this vary sensitive issue in a peaceful and harmonious way are really heroes of Chitrali people.our deepest Salam appreciation and Shahbash to evary individuals in this committee. Chitral and evary single Chitrali is recognized due to peace and respect each other in the Valley. We need peace, harmony and brotherhood to resolve our worldly problems and issues and this is our Chitrali recognition.