Gilgit: Ban imposed on challenging of faiths, hate speech
PT Report
Gilgit, December 31: Assistant Commissioner of Gilgit, Lieut (r) Abid Ali, has issued a notification imposing ban on hate speech and challenging of faiths in the limits of Gilgit district, under section 144 of the constitution. Violators of the ban will be persecuted, the notification reads.
The ban has apparently been imposed after two faith groups in had challenged each other to hold a Manazra (Debate) in the city, to prove veracity of faiths. The challenge had been given by Ahmad Ludhianvi, leader of the Ahl-e-Sunnat wal Jammat group, which was accepted by Agha Rahat Hussain Al-Hussaini, Friday prayer leader of the Itha-Ashri Shia community in Gilgit.
Such a debate has a potential to flare hatred and violence, because traditionally during such debates scholars from both sects try to prove each other’s faith wrong.
Gilgit city has been a hub of sectarian violence for more than three decades. Hundreds of lives have been lost from both sects due to the menace of sectarian violence.
