RAWALPINDI: The patron-in-chief of Supreme Shia Ulema Board and head of Tehreek Nafaz Figh-i-Jafariya (TNFJ) Agha Syed Hamid Ali Shah Moosavi demanded the rescheduling of local government elections till after the Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain.

In a press conference on Tuesday, Moosavi said the ban on Zakirs during Muharram would not be accepted.

`When there is no restriction on politicians, Hafiz and Naat Khawans, the ban on Zakirs from visiting any city is unjustifie d,` he said.

Agha Moosavi said the local government elections in Punjab in the first week of December should be rescheduled for after the Chehlum of Imam Hussain.

He urged the government to fully implement the National Action Plan (NAP) and take action against banned outfits still operating in the country under new names.

He said it was the duty of the government to maintain peace and provide facilities to the people participatingin Muharram processions without any fear.

Moosavi said the government should start an audit of the accounts of political and religious parties to stop foreign funding to sabotage peace in the country.

`The foreign aid of religious and political parties should be banned,theirassets should be checked andin this connection TNFJ offers the inspections of its assets as a first step.

He said restoring peace in the country was not the responsibility of the army alone, adding the federal and provincial governments should also support the army in this regard.

He said the 20 points of the National Action Plan should be ensured and foreign aid still being received by banned terrorist organisations should be stopped from coming into the country.

An immediate search operation should begin not only in Karachi, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunlchwa, GilgitBaltistan and Azad Kashmir but also in Islamabad and Punjab, he added.

The TNFJ chief also announced a 14-point code of Azadari on the occasion. He said public vehicles should also be checked during Muharram processions and participants should be facilitated.

Checking of women should be carried out through women police only.

CCTV cameras and walk-through gates should be installed at entrances and exits to Majalis and processions.

Patrolling by police mobile squads and Elite Force may be ensured for the protection of Majalis and processions, he added.