Pakistan struggles to rein in defiant clerics as COVID-19 cases near 7,500

Pakistan's coronavirus cases on Saturday rose to 7,481 with 465 new patients even as government struggled to control clerics flouting orders against congregations in mosques. One of biggest hurdles being faced by authorities has been to convince clerics to stop congregational prayers in mosques. Pak President Arif 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.

He was poised to continue consultations on Saturday to convince clerics from different sectors to avoid big garings in upcoming month of Ramzan. Pak Prime Minister Imran Khan is also expected to meet religious leaders to take m into confidence over vital issue.

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Lockdown violation by clerics

In stark violation of government orders, a recalcitrant 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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Consultations with clerics

So far Tablighi Jamaat has promised to cooperate and its chief Maulana Nazarur Rehman appealed to his followers to follow official direction in Ramzan. But a group of hardline clerics led by Mufti Muneebur Rehman and Mufti Taqi Usmani wanted to let clerics decide opening of mosques without any interference by government.

Meanwhile, Minister for Religious Affairs Pir orul Haq Qadri, who is also a religious leader, on Friday asked fellow clerics to abide by guidelines of government in order to defeat coronavirus. On Friday, several incidents of violation of official directives were reported. But situation was better than previous Friday when scuffled took place between police and worshippers outside a mosque in Karachi.

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Coronavirus cases in Pak

Ministry of National Health Services reported that 143 people have died so far including eight on Friday. 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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(with PTI inputs)