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| Tuesday, 3 June 2003 |
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Offering of prayers made compulsory in North West Pakistan PESHAWAR, Pakistan, Monday (AFP) The Islamist-led provincial government in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) has made the offering of prayers compulsory with warnings of action against violators. The Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, a six-party Islamist alliance, government that swept last year's elections with the promise of enforcing Islamic law, or sharia, in the conservative province bordering Afghanistan, issued a notification on Saturday asking all Muslims to leave their shops, offices, school and work and offer prayers at the time of calling. "The provincial government has issued a notification to motivate all government employees to offer prayers during their working hours," Provincial Secretary Establishment, Ataullah Khan Toru told AFP on Sunday. "The government has also directed all concerned departments that a mosque should be included in the maps of all government buildings to be constructed in future," Toru said. A notification circulated in government offices by the establishment and administration department Saturday directed the officials to say prayers or face strict disciplinary action. Islamists on Tuesday tabled a long-awaited bill on enforcing Islamic sharia law in conservative northwest, raising fears the move could lead to Taliban-style local government. Since surging to power in October polls, Islamists have been waging a so-called anti-obscenity drive in NWFP, vandalising music stores and tearing down billboard advertisements that depict women and Western products. |
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