Punjab hands over TLP-run mosques and seminaries to Mufti Muneeb

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said mosques and seminaries previously linked to the banned Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan have been brought under the supervision of Mufti Muneebur Rehman, urging ulama to help steer the public away from extremism.

Addressing religious scholars of the Ittehad Bain-ul-Muslimeen Committee at the Chief Minister’s House on Wednesday, Maryam clarified that the government had not taken control of religious institutions but had handed them over to senior clerics for proper management.

“The mosques and madrassas that we sealed were handed over to Mufti Muneebur Rehman. I did not keep them under my control nor did I assign them to my Auqaf department. I handed them all over to you because I believe you will use them to promote religion,” she said.

Maryam announced that the Punjab government would provide a monthly honorarium of Rs 15,000 to Rs 65,000, adding that her father, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, had ordered that this allowance be further increased to Rs 25,000. She reminded scholars that the law on loudspeakers must be respected, allowing their use only for the azan and Friday sermon.

Demands proof from TLP victims

Responding to claims circulating online that 600 TLP workers were killed in recent clashes, Maryam demanded evidence to support the claims. “It is claimed that 600 TLP men were killed – so show me the bodies,” she said. “Someone must have made a video. Let’s at least see where the bodies are.”

She directly referred to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, who posted the statement on his 600 dead. If that many people had died, their bodies would form a mountain.

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Earlier this month, violent clashes broke out in Muridke during the TLP’s long march, leaving at least four people dead, including police officers and civilians, and 56 others injured. SHO factory area Shehzad Nawaz was shot and martyred in the encounter.

The federal government later banned the TLP, following a request from the Punjab government, citing violent extremism and attacks on law enforcement agencies.

Maryam said religious parties had every right to participate in politics, but condemned the use of force and vigilantism. “Every party has the right to engage in politics,” she said. “But taking up arms, blocking roads, burning property and killing in the name of religion can never be acceptable. »

She said TLP sites functioned as arms depots. “Waves of cash were recovered from their offices and weapons were found that even our security agencies do not possess. Why did they have so much ammunition to use against the state?”

Maryam recalled incidents of collective violence linked to the group. “A cart seller was killed simply because he did not bow his head to greet one of their members,” she said. “How can someone holding guns and nailed clubs, attacking the police and breaking their bones, claim to be acting for the Prophet (PBUH)?

She urged academics to take an active role in combating extremist messages, saying the group had “poisoned minds”. “It has been almost a year and a half and every time such incidents happen, I am patient,” she said. “It is not just a disruptive group: it has poisoned minds. »

She said the distinction between genuine religious work and violence carried out under its guise needed to be clarified. “When you don’t speak clearly, people’s minds are filled with doubts,” she said. “When a group takes up arms, it ceases to be a religious movement: it becomes a violent movement. »

Maryam stressed that criminals would be brought to justice, regardless of their gender. “A criminal is a criminal, whether male or female,” she said.

“This group trained women as activists and used seminars to hide weapons. I am not in favor of cruelty towards anyone’s sister or daughter, even opponents. But those who commit crimes will be punished,” she added.

She said she had asked security agencies to immediately release anyone proven innocent. “If a person has been wrongly detained, they must be sent home without delay. »

She called on religious leaders to work alongside the state. “We need your support to free society from this growing threat,” she concluded.