Five imams arrested in Punjab for violating directions

E-Paper | June 13, 2026

GUJRANWALA: Four prayer leaders were arrested by law enforcement agencies and police on violation of Friday prayers code at Gakhar Mandi.

The Punjab government had directed all the mosques to be locked for Juma prayer and general prayers for five times except only for five people, including the caller for prayer (muezzin) and prayer leader (imam), who would be allowed to perform prayers. The law enforcement agencies and police checked the mosques and arrested four prayer leaders in the Gakhar Mandi area on violation of directions. Those arrested are Allama Muhammad Abbas Rizvi, the prayer leader of Jamia Masjid Noora, Qari Muhammad Sabir of Jamia Masjid Ghausia Rizvia in Mohalla Noorpura, Qari Muhammad Mazhar of Jamia Masjid Gulzar-i-Madina in Mohallah Karimabad and Qari Muhammad Usman of Jamia Mashid Kareemabad.

Cases have been registered against them while a prayer leader managed to escape.

Published in Dawn, March 28th, 2020

Our readers are at the heart of everything we do.
Do you have a thought to share or a way we can improve? We’d love to hear it. Reach out to us at feedback@dawn.com.

Coronavirus

Pakistan

Three die as heavy rain breaks heatwave across Punjab

2025 floods hit agriculture hardest with Rs430bn losses: Pakistan Economic Survey

Punjab Assembly minority caucus reviews Christian Marriage Bill

Dr Vikas Jamwal

Mar 28, 2020 10:53am

Very well done. Don't let them issue a fatwa against the authorities.

Recommend 0

Aamir Hussain

Mar 28, 2020 11:13am

Put them inside for whole life. These people are real culprits

Recommend 0

CrisDan

Mar 28, 2020 11:13am

I am so glad to tead this news. These Imams are actually the enemies of humanity. They deserve an examplary punishment or fine to show it to simple people that these Imams are not untouchables and not the genuine friends of simple people. Bravo Police.

Recommend 0

Mohan

Mar 28, 2020 11:27am

Prayer leader "managed to escape." Not difficult in Pakistan.

Recommend 0

F A Khan

Mar 28, 2020 11:33am

This is the only solution if people are not following the guidelines of government. They are endangering life of theirselve and others

Recommend 0

Hamed Quraishi

Mar 28, 2020 11:34am

No pardon! Purposely dangering the life of others.

Recommend 0

ABDULLAH DANISH

Mar 28, 2020 11:43am

Imams don't control affairs of the mosques. The masjid management which consists of mostly older people and have a president decides the affairs of the mosque not imams. Imams are also to selected by that masjid management. So president of the management should be held instead of imams.

Recommend 0

AinOther

Mar 28, 2020 11:46am

Tehsil Piplan district Mianwali apparently was an exception to this rule... Those who are arrested were only more unlucky than the others..

Recommend 0

Reader (Texas)

Mar 28, 2020 11:46am

The backwardness of the country is only because of such people. They never allow progressive thinking.

Recommend 0

AinOther

Mar 28, 2020 11:48am

@Mohan, "Prayer leader "managed to escape." Not difficult in Pakistan." Had it been that easy the other four would have done the same... Man, don't withhold where credit is due..

Recommend 0

Mar 28, 2020 11:50am

And they will be out soon once they finish their Tea.

Recommend 0

Arshad

Mar 28, 2020 12:13pm

Very much needed. They are taking the country to ransom.

Recommend 0

CrisDan

Mar 28, 2020 12:28pm

@kp, but at least, and for the first time in history here, a nessage is conveyed and these mullahs are told that a law exists. Bravo Police.

Recommend 0

Umar

Mar 28, 2020 12:33pm

So much hatred in society!

Recommend 0

A. ALI

Mar 28, 2020 12:36pm

@Aamir Hussain, and remember this region still vows pmln... From areas of vote power hub for PMLN and PPP such offenders will be found in plenty... and frequently... No surprise.

Recommend 0

A. ALI

Mar 28, 2020 12:37pm

@Aamir Hussain, if you can't put nawaz and Zardari behind bars for spreading corruption virus them no one should stay behind bars.

Recommend 0

Parvez

Mar 28, 2020 12:54pm

the Punjab CM needs to learn some lessons from the Sindh CM.

Recommend 0

rafiq

Mar 28, 2020 12:58pm

Be a people of reason. Discover yourself what is this life about yourself. Read all the literature one can get on line these days.One always need good, honest and intelligent people to share and produce good outcome for living. Do not follow blindly. Be a people of reason.

Recommend 0

An Indian Hindu

Mar 28, 2020 01:03pm

Well done! Lives are important than any thing else!

Recommend 0

NACParis

Mar 28, 2020 01:31pm

Great job by the Government particularly after listening to them on a program Qutab on line. They are selfish, inhuman and care less for other than themselves.

Recommend 0

AAA

Mar 28, 2020 01:34pm

Good decision.

Recommend 0

Voice OF Rrason

Mar 28, 2020 01:54pm

You cannot legislate an “attitude”. Period.

Recommend 0

SAM

Mar 28, 2020 01:59pm

Good step.

Recommend 0

SAM

Mar 28, 2020 02:00pm

@NACParis, Totally support this.

Recommend 0

Qadir

Mar 28, 2020 02:19pm

So why even allow 5 people . If they want to maintain jamat then moazzan and Imam are Sufficient , who will be the other lucky 3. Sheer stupidity again from Punjab govt

Recommend 0

Dr Zak Malaria

Mar 28, 2020 04:40pm

Good step for the betterment of the larger society. Well done.

Recommend 0

Ibrahim S

Mar 28, 2020 08:09pm

No bail and no early release. I think we should send them to psychiatric facilities to make them normal.

Recommend 0

Gorden D. Walter

Mar 28, 2020 08:21pm

Imams, Gurus, Pastors are one of the most violators of the current situation in every corner of the worlds. They all should be house arrest for not helping with the current situation. Gorden D. Walter.

Recommend 0

Ahsan

Mar 28, 2020 08:21pm

This can be done better. You need to take on board the imam and then close it. We are all confused as the notification say that the masjids will not be closed but entrance will be limited. Imams will do the prayer so how can you stop them? Just make it clear that everything is closed so no one will do any movement. Stop confusion please

Recommend 0

Branded Content

Why SQD-Mini LED is the display breakthrough we’ve been waiting for?

The display industry is entering a new phase, where reducing trade-offs is as important as pushing performance limits.

The Palms at Silk Gardens introduces a new family address in Karachi

The Palms places families at the heart of its vision, offering thoughtfully planned 2 and 3-bedroom units in a secure, peaceful and community-led environment.