Case Filed Against Imam Stirs Controversy
GOJRA, Punjab – An unusual incident unfolded in Gojra, Toba Tek Singh, when local police registered a case against a mosque imam for reciting Durood Sharif on a loudspeaker before the call to prayer (Azan). The registration of the case triggered strong reactions from both the public and the legal community.
Authorities at the City Police Station said the complaint was filed due to the imam’s use of the loudspeaker before Azan, which they claimed violated local regulations. However, many locals and religious leaders argue that reciting Durood Sharif at any time is permissible under Islamic tradition and Pakistani law.
Lawyers Protest and Challenge Authorities
When authorities did not withdraw the case, former president of the Gojra Bar Association, Advocate Toqeer Ashraf Khan, staged a bold protest. He visited the mosque located in front of the DSP’s office and recited Durood Sharif on the loudspeaker. Addressing the DSP directly, he dared the police to file a case against him if reciting Durood Sharif is considered unlawful.
Advocate Khan emphasized that national laws allow the recitation of Durood Sharif before or after Azan on loudspeakers. He called the case against the imam unjustified and an overreach of authority.
In solidarity, lawyers from the Gojra Bar announced a strike and submitted a formal request to the City Police Station. They demanded action against the DSP and the complainant who initiated the case, highlighting concerns over misuse of power and infringement on religious freedoms.
The incident has sparked widespread local debate over religious practices, loudspeaker regulations, and the correct interpretation of related laws. Social media and local communities are closely following the development, questioning whether such actions undermine constitutional rights to practice religion freely.
