LAHORE: The Pakistan Ulema Council and Wafaqul Masajid Madaris-e-Pakistan on Tuesday claimed that 70 per cent mosques were following the standard operating procedures (SOPs) signed between the clerics and the government, however it is contrary to multiple reports that state that a majority of mosque administrations across the country are ignoring the protocols.
According to a report in a local daily, the number of people at the Islamabad mosques surged “dramatically” after the lifting of the ban. It said none of the prayer-goers were following social distancing measures. Another report quoting an NGO claimed that over 80 per cent mosques were found violating the SOPs during taraweeh prayers, contrary to what they had promised the government.
The data released by the NGO showed that in 96pc of the observed mosques, people were found praying on pavements and roads and nearly 89pc of the worshippers did not wear face masks. Besides, in 72pc and 69pc of the observed mosques, the worshippers did not maintain the 6ft distance and were found doing ablution in the mosques.
In the few mosques where some distance was maintained, this did not amount to 6ft. Photos clearly established massive violation of the important mitigation measure. In more than two-thirds of the observed mosques, children were also found alongside their elders.
The observation was made in Islamabad, Lahore, Faisalabad, Kamalia, Jhang, Layyah, Multan, Toba Tek Singh, Muzaffargarh, Dera Ghazi Khan, Taunsa, Shorkot, Kot Addu and Alipur.
Meanwhile, the Rawalpindi district police have served 460 notices on the administrations of the mosques for violating the 20-point guidelines.
However, in a statement issued on Tuesday, the clerics claimed that majority of Ulema were cooperating with the local authorities in implementing the SOPs. The statement said that though the ratio of mosques following the SOPs in the urban areas was 70pc, in rural areas over 60 per cent mosques were violating the agreement signed with the government.
The federal government had allowed people to offer prayers in mosques, a move denounced by the medical community.
Doctor across the country have warned of the country’s already fragile healthcare system collapsing in the government allows relaxations in the COVID-19 lockdown.
Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Secretary General Dr Qaiser Sajjad regretted had said: “I have to say, with all due respect, that our government has made a very wrong decision and our ulema have demonstrated extreme insensitivity [akin to] playing with human lives. This fight is between the coronavirus and doctors, so please listen to us […] You (government and scholars) have held a meeting without including any technical person.”.
