Trouble for Imran Khan: Pak clerics warn against religious congregation ban amid Covid

A group of over 50 senior clerics in Pakistan has warned government against ban on religious congregations amidst coronavirus outbreak and said authorities should inste abide by religious rms and allow more worshippers in mosques to seek forgiveness from Allah. government has banned prayer congregations of more than five people as part of its measures to curb spre of dely coronavirus, which has infected over 5,715 people in Pakistan.

Despite government's pleas to observe social distancing, over 53 senior clerics of Rawalpindi and Islamab belonging to Wafaqul Maris al Arabia on Monday held a meeting in Jamia Darul Uloom Zakria here to discuss ban on prayer congregations, Dawn News reported.

meeting, attended by clerics representing various seminaries, banned groups, proscribed persons and political and n-political parties warned authorities against ban and said government leers should abide by religious rms and seek forgiveness.

warning came before government could come up with a plan to curb spre of COVID-19 during holy month of Ramazan, which will begin in last week of April. Pir Azizur Rehman Hazarvi, president of Jamia Darul Uloom Zakaria in Islamab, said,

" closure of mosques, shutting down Friday prayers and Taraweeh is unacceptable to countrymen."

Hazarvi, who is also patron of Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), insisted that in order to get rid of virus, it was imperative to seek forgiveness from Allah and increase populace in mosques.

A video clip released by clerics on Tuesday showed leers of various political and n-political organisations,  including JUI-F, Aalmi Tanzeem Khatam-i-Nabuwat, seminaries such as Taleem ul Quran Raja Bazar and a representative of banned group Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat sitting in close proximity of each or. meeting did t ackwledge official directives of a maximum of five persons inside mosques for collective prayers as clerics said that testing times demanded more time for prayers and anunced that apart from five times prayers, Friday and Taraweeh congregations will continue.

clerics, however, agreed to take precautionary measures like use of hand sanitisers, removal of rugs and carpets, washing of floors, cleaning of hands with soaps and social distancing. Hazarvi said,

" senior clerics have ted that all efforts will be me to avoid clash and confrontations with government and state institutions."

Lal Masjid's cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz also continued to challenge authority of Islamab Capital Territoty (ICT) ministration by openly flouting stipulated precautionary measures, report said Every week, Aziz releases foots of huge congregations gared for Friday prayers, deuncing restrictions imposed by government. As a result, number of mosques organising large Friday congregations is increasing in Islamab.

Meanwhile, Ministry of National Health Services on Tuesday said 342 new COVID-19 cases have been registered in last 24 hours, taking total number to 5,716.

Punjab recorded maximum number of 2,826 cases, followed by Sindh at 1,452, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) 800, Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) 233, Balochistan 231, Islamab 131 and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) 43. While 1,378 people have recovered, 96 died and 46 are in critical condition, ministry said. A total of 69,928 tests have been performed, including 3,157 during last 24 hours, it said.