Rahim Yar Khan District Administration Convenes Emergency Peace Committee Meetings
In response to escalating regional tensions involving Iran, Israel, and the United States, coupled with the tragic martyrdom of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the district administration of Rahim Yar Khan held emergency peace committee meetings on Sunday. High-level administrative sessions were conducted simultaneously at the district headquarters and across all four tehsils, overriding the official weekend holiday to preempt any potential domestic fallout and ensure absolute tranquility in the region.
Key Participants and Proceedings
Deputy Commissioner Zaheer Anwar Jappa presided over the central district peace committee meeting, while assistant commissioners led sessions in their respective tehsils. The apex meeting was attended by prominent religious scholars representing all schools of thought, peace committee members, Additional Deputy Commissioner Malik Farooq Ahmed, Administrator Officer Riyasat Ali, and officials from allied departments. District Police Officer Irfan Ali Samo and several assistant commissioners participated via video link.
During the proceedings, clerics and city elders unanimously resolved to maintain impeccable law and order across the district, pledging mutual cooperation in these challenging times. Participants expressed profound grief over the deteriorating security situation, particularly recent events in Iran and skirmishes at the Pak-Afghan border. Special prayers were offered for Ayatollah Khamenei and his companions, as well as for Pakistan Army soldiers martyred in border clashes, along with collective supplications for the safety of Pakistan and the Muslim Ummah.
Administrative Warnings and Appeals
Addressing the forum, DC Zaheer Anwar Jappa emphasized that the government and people of Pakistan stand in solidarity with Iran during this period of mourning. He highlighted that maintaining internal peace is the administration's top priority, given the fragile regional geopolitical climate, to prevent miscreants from sowing chaos. While acknowledging peaceful protest as a democratic right, he issued a stern warning against taking the law into one's own hands, stating that protecting the public, state institutions, and national infrastructure is a collective responsibility.
Jappa cautioned that foreign elements might exploit Pak-Afghan tensions to orchestrate instability within Pakistan, directing enhanced security protocols at mosques, Imambargahs, and all places of worship. He appealed to religious scholars to use pulpits to disseminate messages of peace, brotherhood, and inter-faith harmony, and urged citizens to remain vigilant, monitor newcomers—especially Afghan nationals—and report suspicious activities to law enforcement.
Police and Committee Responses
Via video link, DPO Irfan Ali Samo warned that anti-state elements are seeking to sabotage Pakistan's internal peace amid regional upheaval. He reassured the public that the police force is on high alert with comprehensive security deployments to safeguard citizens. Concluding the meeting, peace committee members condemned the attack on Iran as cowardly and deplorable, describing Khamenei's assassination as a tragedy for the Islamic world and expressing solidarity with the Shia community.
The committee also strongly condemned cross-border terrorism from Afghanistan, reaffirming support for the Pakistan Armed Forces. Members resolved that unity, patience, tolerance, and collective wisdom are essential to prevent external forces from fracturing the nation's socio-religious harmony during these turbulent times.
