Allama Talib Jauhri not to address Nishtar Park this year

By Fareed Farooqui

KARACHI: Allama Talib Jauhari, well-known for his charged and informative speeches, will not be addressing Karachi’s biggest and most popular majalis that are held at Nishtar Park every Muharram between the 1st and 10th.

According to officials of the Pak Muharram Association, Allama Jauhari is in ill health and has been advised rest by doctors. However, according to other sources, security concerns and lack of a payment settlement with the organizers is the reason he is not addressing Nishtar Park this year and Allama Salman Turabi, son of hugely popular Allama Rasheed Turabi, will be addressing the majalis.

Muharram in Karachi began full throttle on the first day of Muharram with majalis being held around the city in mosques, imambargahs, public grounds and homes. Most majalis began after Asr prayers and continued late into the night.

“In the Indo-Pak subcontinent, Karachi holds the most majalis after Lucknow, India. Seven thousand majalis and 1,500 processions are taking place daily in the first 10 days of Muharram,” said Shabbar Raza, deputy secretary of the Jafferia Alliance Pakistan. The main processions are organized on the 8th, 9th and 10th of Muharram.

There were strict body checks for those at Nishtar Park, where the majlis began at 4 p.m. and ended just before Maghrib prayers, and people standing in and around the park were also checked. The cars parked on streets were also thoroughly searched for arms and explosives and there was heavy camera surveillance in and around the area. Heavy contingents of the police, rangers, Police Qaumi Razakar and volunteers from different organizations were present.

Temporary police posts had been established at MA Jinnah Road, Soldier Bazar Road and other link roads from the Mazar-e-Quaid to Nishtar Park.

In his first majlis for the year, Allama Salman Turabi spoke about how the Islamic calendar was different from calendars of other religions. “People of other religions begin their new years with worldly deeds, but in Islam, the new year begins with worship, teaching, sacrifice and patience.

He said that Muharram, as mentioned in the Quran, was one of the four of 12 months in the Islamic calendar that have been called ‘the months of peace and restraint’ during which fighting, corruption, lying and other worldly habits are prohibited. “Even during the age of ignorance, the Arabs would put their swords in the hilt during Muharram and used to abstain from murder and plunder. With the arrival of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the respect and love shown in Muharram grew even more. It is the duty of all Muslims to follow Allah and His Prophet’s orders and be kind and helpful to each other.”

Another large majlis was held at Mehfil-e-Murtaza, addressed by Maulana Zaki Baqir who talked about how mercy and gratitude can be achieved through utmost belief and respect for the Quran, Prophet Muhammad and his family. “The Quran holds the answers for all the problems being faced by Muslims today and the believers should try and obey this Holy Book that has been sent for their guidance.”

Among other events held to mark the beginning of Muharram, Anjuman-e-Dasta Abu Talib organized a poetry programme at Masjid-e-Baitullah Khokarapar in Malir on Thursday night. Poets Zafar Abbas, Saghar Naqvi, Abbas Haider Zaidi, Maqsood Alam, Sohail Shah, Iftikhar Imam, Samar Abbas Samar, Dr Rabid Hussain addressed the recital.