Sindh Madressatul Islam (SMI) is issuing
entry cards to namazis who offer prayers in its twin mosques
– each for Shias and Sunnis – and people who
are not cardholders will not be allowed to enter the mosques.
“We introduced this system after
our Shia mosque reopened many weeks after the deadly suicide
bombing, which killed 24 people and injured many others,”
SMI principal, Mohammad Ali Shaikh told Daily Times on
Tuesday.
On May 7 a suicide bomber, who was later
identified as Akbar Niazi, a police recruit, blew himself
up with heavy explosives wrapped around his body, killing
16 people on the spot and injuring more than 150. Eight
more injured succumbed to their injuries later bringing
the total toll to 24.
The police identified Niazi from a police
buckle they found from the remains of a decomposed body.
He was a resident of Lyari’s Niazi Chowk. His mentor,
Gul Hasan, a frontman for the banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi,
and his associate Qari Amanullah, were later arrested
and a case is being pursued against them.
The Sunni mosque was established in 1893
and a year after, the founders established a Shia mosque
with similar design and space.
“These mosques were primarily established
for teachers and students of the madrassa,” said
Mr Shaikh, adding that it was not more than two decades
ago when the administration first allowed people from
outside the madrassa to offer prayers in the twin mosques.
“Before the suicide attack, around
7,000 to 8,000 people would offer their prayers in the
Sunni mosque on Fridays, and the number of namazis at
the Shia mosque would be in its hundreds,” he said.
The May 7 attack on the Shia mosque resulted
in its virtual closure; most people decided to go elsewhere
fearing a possible backlash, a madrassa teacher said.
It took more than one month to restore
the Shia mosque and it was reopened on June 15. “And
then we decided to change the liberal policy of allowing
everyone to use it to avoid any further risks,”
said Mr Shaikh. He said the SMI administration has designed
a form, which anyone who wants to use the mosque must
fill.
The applicant would give details, including
his home and office addresses and contact numbers. The
form has to be attested by the applicant’s employer.
“We charge Rs 50 and one form will be valid for
life,” said Mr Shaikh. Details given by the applicant
be verified by the police and other related departments.
The entry cards are issued by the SMI
principal with the recommendations of the pesh imams of
the two mosques. The SMI has issued the entry cards to
215 people so far, said Mr Shaikh. “And if we receive
reports or complaints about any cardholder that he is
involved in spreading sectarian hatred in our mosques
we’ll cancel the permission to enter,” said
Mr Shaikh.
The SMI has employed three private security
guards who check namazis before they enter the mosque.
Before that people be checked by the watchmen of the madrassa
at the main gate.
On Fridays, police parties are also deployed
at the madrassa.
When asked how much faith the SMI had
in the current security measures given the fact that a
police recruit was involved in the May 7 suicide bombing,
Mr Shaikh said their instructions were not to allow entry
to any policemen or person from any other law enforcement
agency not on duty to enter.
Asked about the policemen and security
guards on duty at the mosques, he said there was a risk.
“But we have to rely on someone and this system
has been working very efficiently so far.”
