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Pakistan bans use of PA system for jihad call

Acting tough against threats of indefinite nation-wide strikes by pro-Taleban religious outfits protesting Islamabad's cooperation with US-led military strikes against Afghanistan, Pakistan on Wednesday banned the use of public address systems in mosques for purposes other than azan (prayer) and sermon.

Some religious groups leaders have used the public address systems during sermons at certain mosques to call for jihad (holy war).

A cabinet meeting presided over by President Gen Pervez Musharraf, took 'strong notice of misuse of loud speakers in certain mosques' and directed the interior ministry and provincial governments to strictly implement the ban on use of microphones in mosques', an official statement in Islamabad said.

However, the loudspeakers could be used for azan and Khutba-e-juma (Friday sermon), it said.

The statement said government would not allow anybody to 'sow discord and create disharmony through inflammatory and derogatory speeches inciting people against any religion or sect'.

"No one will be allowed to preach sectarian hatred," it said, three days after unidentified gunmen shot dead 18 Christians in a church in Punjab province.

Mosques all over Pakistan use loud speakers during the prayer timings.

Amid threats of indefinite strikes by the pro-Taleban religious parties beginning from the second week of November, Musharraf asked his officials not to allow anyone to challenge the writ of the government and ordered them to firmly put down violence.

Meanwhile, flying of hand gliders has been banned within Islamabad district.

Officials said there was anxiety among the security officials that hand gliders could be used for launching suicide attacks on official buildings and top government functionaries.

Before the cabinet meeting, Musharraf presided over a high-level meeting of police and army officials to review the law and order situation in the light of the October 27 attack on the church in Punjab and told the officials that the government would not tolerate any attempt aimed at disrupting civic life on any pretext.

PTI

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