Musharraf for check on misuse of religious places

Musharraf ordered a complete ban on the sale of hate literature outside mosques and use of loudspeakers in mosques.

President Pervez Musharraf has directed the security agencies to check the misuse of religious places involved in spreading hatred so as to eradicate the upsurge in terrorism in Pakistani society.

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Linking the deteriorating security problem in the country with the increasing menace of terrorism, Musharraf ordered a complete ban on the sale of hate literature outside mosques and use of loudspeakers in mosques other than for Azan prayers, Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao told mediapersons after a high-level meeting at the Army House.

Musharraf told the meeting that the menace of terrorism could be eliminated only by changing the mindset of the people and ensuring that the religious seminaries are not exploited for agitational activities.

Musharraf underscored the need for targeting the sources that spread hatred and to sternly deal with the printers, publishers and the distributors of material used for fanning sectarianism and extremism, including CDs, pamphlets, brochures and booklets.