Congregational Taraweeh prayers were held in at least 22 mosques in Karachi today, the eve of the first Ramazan, in violation of Sindh government's orders under which Taraweeh was restricted to 3-5 persons in view of rising Covid-19 cases, according to official sources and papers reviewed by Dawn.

Sources familiar with the development said that among the mosques where collective Friday and Taraweeh prayers took place, nine were in Malir district, five in South district, four in Korangi district, three in West district and one in East district.

This prompted the administration and police authorities to identify the areas where the violations took place, which included wealthy neighbourhoods in the DHA and poor localities in Orangi Town, and send a report to higher authorities for possible action against the violators.

A senior officer said that around 100 to 150 people offered Taraweeh in the said areas without observing social distancing. However, no arrests have taken place as yet, police sources said.