By TwoCircles.net staff reporter
Ludhiana : Acting on a petition submitted by Shahi Imam of Ludhiana and Ameer Majlis Ahrar-i-Islam Maulana Habeebur Rahman Thani Ludhianavi, Minister for Jails, Punjab, Hira Singh Gabria has assured that special arrangements will be made for Muslim jail inmates all through the holy month of Ramadan.
A delegation of Ahrar leaders led by the organisation’s general secretary Muhammad Usman Rahmani Ludhianavi called on the Minister for Jails here Thursday and submitted the petition of Ahrar chief.
Mr Rahmani drew the attention of the Minister towards the difficulties faced by Muslim jail inmates during the month of Ramadan.
On behalf of Majlis Ahrar he urged the Punjab government to provide a special barrack for Muslim inmates to offer their Salat (five-time prayers) and Taraweeh (special prayers offered during Ramadan) and make special arrangements for fresh food at suhoor (special pre-dawn meal) time.
The Minister for Jails granted his acceptance to these recommendations submitted by Ahrar leaders and assured them that jail authorities all over the state would provide these facilities all through Ramadan.
He issued orders to release a circular to all jails in Punjab to provide special place of worship within the jail precincts and fresh food for pre-dawn meals for Muslim jail inmates during the month of
Ramadan.
Gabria told the visiting Ahrar leaders that the government of Punjab respects all religions and chief minister Prakash Singh Badal is paying special attention to the minorities. He informed them that the chief minister not only respects the Shahi Imam Maulana Habeebur Rahman Thani Ludhianavi but consider his suggestions sincerely.
Gabria also said that the real purpose of his department is to try to bring the jail inmates back to the straight path.
Ahrar general secretary later told the presspersons, "Our organisation has also requested the government to provide 200 gram of milk each besides food for Muslim jail inmates during the month of Ramadan."
He added that Al-Habeeb Charitable Trust running under the aegis of the Shahi Imam will try to provide Iftar facilities in main prisons of Punjab. "The Trust has been providing Iftar facilities in the three jails in Ludhiana for the last few years. This year it will extend its distribution of Iftar to the jails outside the city as well."