20000317CE approves imposition of ban on religious meetings, demos

ASIF FAROOQI

ISLAMABAD: Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf has approved a ban on meetings and processions leading to religious disharmony in the country, well-placed government said.

The ban is to be enforced with the expiry of Holy month of Moharram, tentatively by the end of April, the sources added.

The government on Wednesday announced a legal prohibition on holding political rallies, meetings or processions at the public places. However the political parties have been allowed all such activities indoor. Interior minister while justifying the step said on Thursday that curtailment of political activities was meant to give peace and stability a chance in the country.

Advised by the Chief Executive, relevant ministries are working out a strategy and details of putting a ban on such religious meetings and processions, which could lead to religious disharmony in the country.

Sources told Business Recorder that General Musharraf is convinced that religious disharmony was the main sources of creating law and order problems in the country. "Foreign elements take full advantage of difference of opinion with regard to religion", the official sources said, adding that there was every possibility that the enemy would try to crate panic and terror in the country by targeting religious processions and meetings.

"The government is bound to save the image of religious parties in the country and the world over and it was necessary to counter enemy designs of creating religious intolerance", the official sources said.