Imran Khan govt's big move: Pakistan Mosques to remain open for Ramzan prayers amid Covid

Even as total tally of coronavirus cases in Pakistan on Sunday reached 7500, Imran Khan government has decided to keep mosques open during month of Ramadan. However, it has said that certain restrictions will be imposed. decision was anunced by President Arif Alvi after meeting religious leaders. 

“This is conditional permission for Taraweeh and Friday prayers in congregations in mosques,” Pak President Arif Alvi anunced, adding that 20 guidelines had been mutually agreed with clerics which included keeping six feet distances between worshippers, removal of carpets, disinfection of mosque floors and cooperation with authorities.

This comes even as Faisalabad chief of Tablighi Jamaat died of coronavirus in Pakistan’s Punjab province on Friday. government in Pakistan is struggling to control clerics flouting lockdown orders against congregations in mosques. While President Alvi on Friday held talks with Jamaat-i-Islami chief Senator Sirajul Haq, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Markazi Jamiat Ahle Hadith chief Senator Sajid Mir and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Rana Tanveer Hussain over prayer congregations, PM Imran Khan is also expected to meet religious leaders. 

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Lockdown violation by clerics

In stark violation of government orders, a cleric of Red Mosque had been holding regular Friday congregation in heart of capital Islamabad. Maulana Abdul Aziz refused to cooperate and government was unable to remove him from pulpit of a mosque which is owned by government's religious affairs ministry. government has said that only five worshippers including those who are associated with affairs of mosques are allowed to offer congregational prayers.

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Coronavirus cases in Pak

Ministry of National Health Services reported that 143 people have died so far. Ar 1,832 have recovered. largest province of Punjab registered 3,391 patients, followed by Sindh with 2,217, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 1,077, Balochistan 335, Gilgit-Baltistan 250, Islamabad 163 and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir with 48 patients. ministry showed that so far 92,548 tests have been conducted, including 6,416 in last 24 hours. steady rise continued despite hectic efforts to contain spread.

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