LAHORE: While assuring the government of their unconditional support and cooperation in its fight against coronavirus, leaders of religio-political parties and Mashaikh (religious scholars) have asked the rulers to review their policy regarding restrictions on the regular prayers and Taraweeh in mosques.

In a joint statement, Sahibzada Dr Abul Khair Muhammad Azad, Senator Sirjaul Haq, Prof Sajid Meer and Allama Sajid Naqvi said that at a time when the lockdown restrictions were being eased and people were queuing up outside banks, in the markets and shops, and goods transport and construction activity had been practically allowed, the plans of the federal and provincial governments to ban regular prayers and Taraweeh at the mosques was questionable.

They, therefore, urged the governments to review the plan, arguing that if all other collective activities could be permitted, restrictions on regular prayers and the Taraweeh at the mosques were contrary to the claims of the rulers about their intention to convert Pakistan into the ‘State of Madina’.

The signatories to the joint statement included Jamaat-i-Islami leader Liaquat Baloch, Allama Awais Noorani, Hafiz Akif Saeed and Maulana Allah Wasayah.

Published in Dawn, April 14th, 2020