Senior civil and police officials, religious scholars, community leaders and civil society representatives gathered in Dera Ismail Khan for a dialogue aimed at strengthening religious harmony, promoting mutual respect and ensuring a peaceful observance of Muharram across the division.
Commissioner, RPO lead Muharram peace dialogue in DI Khan
DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Jun 17 (APP):Senior civil and police officials, religious scholars, community leaders and civil society representatives gathered in Dera Ismail Khan for a dialogue aimed at strengthening religious harmony, promoting mutual respect and ensuring a peaceful observance of Muharram across the division.
The dialogue, titled “Paigham-e-Muharram: Peace, Respect and Sacrifice,” was organized by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Center of Excellence for Countering Violent Extremism (KP CoE-CVE) here at the Jirga Hall of the Commissioner’s Office.
Commissioner Dera Ismail Khan Division Dawood Khan attended the event as chief guest, while Regional Police Officer (RPO) Ghulam Mubashir Mekan was the guest of honour.
The session brought together Deputy Commissioner Dera Ismail Khan, members of the Peace Committee, traders, religious scholars, representatives of civil society and officials from various government departments.
The participants exchanged views on maintaining peace and order, promoting religious harmony and fostering mutual respect among different schools of thought during Muharram.
Addressing the gathering, Commissioner Dawood Khan said Muharram conveyed the values of patience, tolerance, sacrifice and selflessness. He noted that disruptive and extremist elements often sought opportunities to undermine peace and sectarian harmony, but their efforts could be thwarted through collective awareness, cooperation and responsible conduct. He urged religious leaders, community elders and citizens to actively contribute to strengthening peace and social cohesion.
RPO Ghulam Mubashir Mekan said comprehensive security arrangements had been put in place to ensure a peaceful Muharram and were being implemented effectively. He stated that law enforcement agencies remained fully alert to protect the lives and property of citizens and were maintaining close coordination with all relevant institutions. Additional security personnel have also been deployed across the region.
He appealed to the public to report any suspicious activities immediately, comply with the code of conduct and cooperate with police personnel deployed at checkpoints to help maintain a secure environment.
Additional Director General of the KP Center of Excellence for Countering Violent Extremism, Kashif Irshad, thanked participants and expressed confidence that Muharram would remain peaceful in Dera Ismail Khan due to the strong coordination among government institutions, religious scholars, peace committees and the public. He emphasized that dialogue, tolerance and mutual respect were essential for protecting society from extremism and violence.
Speakers at the event highlighted the importance of preserving the sanctity of Muharram, promoting religious tolerance and strengthening national unity. Religious scholars underscored the values of inter-sect harmony, respect for humanity and patience, noting that Islamic teachings advocate peace, compassion and brotherhood.
The participants reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the administration and law enforcement agencies in maintaining peace, promoting sectarian harmony and ensuring social stability throughout Muharram.
The session concluded with a special prayer for peace, stability, prosperity and unity in Pakistan and across the Muslim world.
