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Maulana Abdul Aziz barred from leading Friday prayers after strenuous negotiations

Haider Ali 09:52 AM | 12 May, 2018
Maulana Abdul Aziz barred from leading Friday prayers after strenuous negotiations
ISLAMABAD - The deposed cleric of Lal Masjid, Maulana Abdul Aziz was not allowed to lead Friday prayers and deliver the weekly sermon in the mosque after the capital administration held hours-long negotiations with him.

As many as five rounds of talks between the administration and the cleric started on Friday morning following which the officials told the media that the maulana had agreed not to visit the mosque.

One of the ICT officials said the cleric insisted that it was his right to deliver a sermon at the mosque.

"His plan was that he would go to the mosque in the form of a procession along with a few vehicles loaded with women students but we did not succumb to any pressure," the official added.

The administration informed maulana Aziz about illegal construction of new Jamia Hafsa over a natural stream, urging him to clear it first as a dutiful citizen.

The negotiations came as Shuhada Foundation of Lal Masjid had announced on May 8 that Maulana Aziz would lead the Friday prayers and deliver a sermon, after a gap of over three years.

However, as Maulana Aziz did not go to Lal Masjid, the Friday prayers were led by Amir Siddique, the deputy cleric.

The government had deposed Maulana Aziz from the state-owned Lal Masjid after he delivered a controversial sermon in 2014, defending the perpetrators of the Army Public School Peshawar attack, calling it a reactionary move by terrorists.

There have been repeated attempt in recent past by the cleric to consolidate his position over the affairs of the seminary, however, he has not been successful to this day.

In February 2017, Lal Masjid announced its disassociation from outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan faction Jamaatul Ahrar after the terror group launched strikes in Pakistan named after Abdul Rasheed Ghazi, the brother of Maulana Aziz who was killed in 2007 military operation on Lal Masjid.

In March 2017, the cleric announced to hold a conference in Lal Masjid against blasphemous content on the social media; the government did not allow it.

In August 2017, the relatives of the deposed Lal Masjid cleric were stopped from holding a press conference by the ICT administration on the basis that mosques should not be politicised.

During the latest discussions on Friday, scores of women clad in black burqas kept an eye on the situation from the windows and rooftops of the new Jamia Hafsa.

On the other hand, women police commandos and Rangers also roamed in the street nearby the centre.

 

Haider Ali

The writer is a civil servant.

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Today's currency exchange rates in Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal rates on March 23, 2023

KARACHI - Following are the foreign currency exchange rates for US Dollar, Saudi Riyal, UK Pound Sterling, U.A.E. Dirham, European Euro, and other foreign currencies in Pakistan open market on March 23, 2023 (Thursday).

Source: Forex Association of Pakistan. (last update 09:00 AM)

Currency Symbol Buying Selling
US Dollar ‎USD 283.1 286.15
Euro EUR 302.5 305.5
UK Pound Sterling GBP 343.5 347
U.A.E Dirham AED 77.2 78
Saudi Riyal SAR 75.4 76.2
Australian Dollar AUD 187 189.4
Bahrain Dinar BHD 749.55 757.55
Canadian Dollar CAD 205 207.2
China Yuan CNY 40.91 41.31
Danish Krone DKK 40.77 41.17
Hong Kong Dollar HKD 35.92 36.27
Indian Rupee INR 3.41 3.52
Japanese Yen JPY 2.06 2.11
Kuwaiti Dinar KWD 919.22 928.22
Malaysian Ringgit MYR 62.85 63.45
New Zealand Dollar NZD 176.66 178.66
Norwegians Krone NOK 26.33 26.63
Omani Riyal OMR 731.97 739.97
Qatari Riyal ‎QAR 77.43 78.13
Singapore Dollar SGD 208 210
Swedish Korona SEK 26.5 26.8
Swiss Franc CHF 305.12 307.62
Thai Bhat THB 8.19 8.34

Today's gold rates in Pakistan – 23 March 2023

KARACHI – The price of a single tola of 24-karat gold in Pakistan is Rs 203,800 on Thursday. The price of 10 grams of 24k gold was recorded at Rs174,730.   

Likewise, 10 grams of 22k gold were being traded for Rs163,624 while a single tola of 22-karat gold was being sold at Rs 190,880.

Note: The gold rate in Pakistan is fluctuating according to the international market so the price is never been fixed. The below rates are provided by local gold markets and Sarafa Markets of different cities.

City Gold Silver
Lahore PKR 203,800 PKR 2,350
Karachi PKR 203,800 PKR 2,350
Islamabad PKR 203,800 PKR 2,350
Peshawar PKR 203,800 PKR 2,350
Quetta PKR 203,800 PKR 2,350
Sialkot PKR 203,800 PKR 2,350
Attock PKR 203,800 PKR 2,350
Gujranwala PKR 203,800 PKR 2,350
Jehlum PKR 203,800 PKR 2,350
Multan PKR 203,800 PKR 2,350
Bahawalpur PKR 203,800 PKR 2,350
Gujrat PKR 203,800 PKR 2,350
Nawabshah PKR 203,800 PKR 2,350
Chakwal PKR 203,800 PKR 2,350
Hyderabad PKR 203,800 PKR 2,350
Nowshehra PKR 203,800 PKR 2,350
Sargodha PKR 203,800 PKR 2,350
Faisalabad PKR 203,800 PKR 2,350
Mirpur PKR 203,800 PKR 2,350

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