ISLAMABAD: Minister for Interior retired Brig Ijaz Shah on Thursday said the ulema should help enforce standard operating procedures (SOP) issued to limit the spread of the coronavirus on Eidul Azha.

Mr Shah was speaking to a delegation of clerics led by Majlis-i-Ulema-i-Pakistan Chairman Maulana Syed Abdul Khabir Azad.

Mr Azad, who is also the khateeb of the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore, said that the government’s strategy was reducing the impact of the coronavirus pandemic in the country. He compared the coronavirus to security threats and said all individuals had to play a part in implementing SOPs to keep the country safe.

“We as a nation have to fight this pandemic, we are making every effort at the government level to ensure the safety of the people,” he said.

He also briefed Mr Shah on the Message of Peace Conference organised by the Majlis-i-Ulema-i-Pakistan.

“The declaration of the conference aligned with the ‘Paigham-i-Pakistan’ initiative formulated by the government,” he said, adding that this initiative needs to be given a formal shape and made effective.

He said the Majlis-i-Ulema-i-Pakistan has decided to spread the SOPs prepared for Eid and those related to animal sacrifices from mihrab to mimbar to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

Mr Shah suggested that collective sacrifices be held along with other measures to reduce human interaction on Eid.

Published in Dawn, July 17th, 2020