Fazl-e-Umar — Page 187
Fazle Umar 187 attend the conference or go anywhere near it, if for no other reason than to avoid all risk of friction or conflict. Yet the government granted permission to the Ahrar to hold the conference. The Secretary of the Khalifatul Masih whose duty it was to make arrangements for the security of Qadian against any possible ill designs of the organisers of the conference, sent letters to branches of the Movement within a reasonable distance of Qadian requiring dispatch to Qadian of a specified number of volunteers who would act as watch and ward units around Qadian for the purpose of ensuring the security of Qadian against any attempt to disrupt it. When the Superintendent of Police of the district learnt of the despatch of these letters, he proceeded to Qadian and assured the Secretary concerned that the government would take adequate measures for safe- guarding the security of Qadian during the period of the conference, and suggested the letters which had been issued by the Secretary might be recalled or cancelled. The Secretary expressed his satisfaction over the assurance of the Superintendent of Police and agreed that the letters would be recalled. Thereafter prompt action was taken to recall the letters. It appears the Governor, who had been informed of the earlier developments and had been notified by the District Magistrate of the issue of the letters, was not immedi- ately made aware of the action taken to have the letters recalled. Acting upon his earlier information he directed the issue of a notice under the Criminal Law Amendment Act to the Khalifatul Masih calling upon him to stop the inflow of members of the Move- ment into Qadian during the period of the conference, to provide no accommodation or food for any members of the Movement who might arrive at Qadian during that period, and to take certain other specified measures which were designed to prevent the risk of any conflict between the Ahrar and the members of the Movement. One such measure was that an Ahmadi was prohibited from carrying any stick in