From Zeeshan Mirza
KARACHI: Renowned religious scholar Mufti Taqi Usmani has welcomed the decision on the opening of mosques for prayers and Taraweeh during the holy month of Ramazan.
In a statement on Twitter on Sunday, Mufti Usmani said he was happy that appropriate procedure regarding mosques has been decided. “It is now the responsibility of the mosque and its administration to make sure SOPs put in place are being followed,” he said.
His statement comes after President Arif Alvi met with ulema and announced that mosques would remain open for Taraweeh prayers and had urged citizens and religious leaders alike to exercise discipline and take precautions against the coronavirus pandemic when coming to mosques.
While speaking in Geo News programme ‘Naya Pakistan’ on Saturday Mufti Usmani said that after the code of conduct, it was the responsibility of the mosque committees and ulema to ensure its implementation in letter and spirit.
“The distance of six feet between the lines for prayers and between the namazis was discussed, however, WHO called for three feet distance between the two persons,” he said. He added, “Three-foot distance would be maintained between two namazis while a six-foot distance in the lines would be maintained,” The Mufti had urged all the religious scholars and mosque administrations that all the SOPs must be ensured and if they failed to do so, they would be responsible for the damage.
Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan has hailed the issuance of a joint declaration by the President Dr Arif Alvi and the Ulema regarding holding the prayers in the mosques during Ramzan. Dr Firdous while talking to the newsmen here on Sunday said that the President Dr Arif Alvi and the Ulema were playing laudable role in combating coronavirus pandemic. She said that government would ensure the early implementation on joint declaration between government and the Ulema regarding prayers during Ramzan. SAPM Dr Firdous urged the Ulema to continue playing their role in promoting anti coronavirus awareness among the people besides performing their religious obligations and duties in the motherland.
Prime Minister Imran Khan was successfully fighting against the coronavirus pandemic and the whole of the nation was standing with him, SAPM said, adding that “Nation must be united to battle against coronavirus”.
She said that the COVID-19 testing capacity would be increased up to 20,000 tests on daily basis by the end of this month.
