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Friday March 29, 2024

Sana resignation, Shariah enforcement: Sialvi gives 7-day deadline, threatens Punjab lockdown

By our correspondents
January 21, 2018

LAHORE: Custodian of Sial Sharif shrine in Sargodha, Pir Hameeduddin Sialvi, has given a seven-day deadline to government for enforcement of Shariah and dismissal of Punjab Home Minister Rana Sanaullah, failing which he would lock down entire Punjab province.

He was addressing a large crowd at Data Darbar Saturday night after reaching there in a motorcade, carrying thousands of slogan-chanting and flag-waving devotees and supporters.

The proposed sit-in at Data Darbar was changed into a Khatm-e-Nabuwat conference, which was addressed by central leaders of various religious parties supporting the cause of Khatm-e-Nabuwat and resignation of Rana Sanaullah for his controversial statement wherein he allegedly declared Qadyanis as Muslims.

Those who spoke included Tehrik Sirat-e-Mustaqeem (TSM) chief Dr Ashraf Asif Jalali, Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) President Hamid Raza, Ghulam Bibi Bharwana, MNA from Sial Sharif, and a large number of shrines custodians, spiritual leaders and religious elders, who vehemently demanded resignation of Rana Sanaullah.

They demanded bringing an end to all western conspiracies aimed at abolishing blasphemy laws.

Dr Ashraf Jalali threatened to start courting arrests from Jan 27 if the government failed to accept the demands of Pir Sialvi.

Pir Sialvi, in his speech, did not elaborate the mode of locking down the province, but said every city and town would be closed down after seven days if the government failed to enforce Shariah and fulfil other demands including dismissal of Rana Sanaullah, releasing all prisoners of Khatm-e-Nabuwat movement, lifting of all restrictions on mosque speakers, prayer leaders, and seminaries.

He said the rulers were bent upon enforcing secular values, asking why they can’t keep Quran close to their hearts. They are keeping Rana Sanaullah close to their hearts instead, he added.

He appealed to people not to vote for any candidate in coming elections who was not a slave of Holy Prophet (SAW), who supports Qadyanis and who’s hindering enforcement of Nizam-e-Mustafa in the country.

Pir Sialvi enjoys a large spiritual following among people of Punjab and is leading the movement to protect Khatm-e-Nabuwat in which proposed sit-in was being staged against the rulers’ alleged role in amending the Khatm-e-Nabuwat oath for legislators and open support for Qadyanis.

The parties which announced support to Pir Sialvi include Sunnit Ittehad Council, JUP-Noorani, JUP-Niazi, Jamaat Ahle Sunnat, Sunni Tehrik, TLYR, Nizam Mustafa Party, Tehrik Faizan Aulia, Anjuman Talaba Islam, Nizam Mustaf Muttahida Mahaz (NMMM), Pakistan Mashaikh Council, Jamaat Salehin, Pakistan Falah Party and others.

Apart from these parties, a large number of custodians of important shrines in the country have also announced joining the movement and are reaching Lahore along with large number of followers.