Punjab Government Decides to Take Action Against Clerics Making Hate Speeches; Honorariums to Be Suspended

**Islamabad (Daily Qudrat):** The Punjab government has announced strict measures against religious scholars who deliver speeches against state policies, including the suspension of government-provided honorariums.

According to Express News, the government has adopted a zero-tolerance policy for hate speech and anti-state activities. Any cleric promoting a narrative against the state will have their honorarium immediately revoked, and strict action will be taken against them.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz approved the policy based on recommendations from the Punjab Home Department. The policy stipulates that honorariums will only be granted to responsible and law-abiding clerics, while those spreading hate will be completely barred from receiving government benefits.

The Home Department stated that the honorarium scheme aims to promote peace, harmony, and national unity, and no leniency will be shown in cases of legal violations. Any cleric found delivering hate speeches or materials will be immediately removed from the list.

Preliminary screening based on security and intelligence reports has cleared 66,000 mosque imams in the province, confirming that no anti-state activities were detected among them. These clerics are considered fully compliant with the law and highly respected.

The Home Department confirmed that monitoring and screening of the honorarium list will continue, and strict checks will remain in place to prevent misuse. The government emphasized that responsible religious activities will continue freely within the framework of the law, but extremists or anti-state elements will not receive any government honorarium or patronage.

Punjab Home Secretary Ahmed Javed Qazi stated that there is zero tolerance for anti-state narratives, and clear instructions have been issued at the district level to ensure proper implementation of the honorarium policy.