CONSENSUS and harmony amongst different segments becomes imperative when a nation is confronted with a challenge such as the one currently posed by contagious Corona Virus. It is satisfying that government and religious scholars realised the importance of these virtues and one saw its manifestation on Saturday when after consultations they agreed to a code of conduct to be observed in mosques during the holy month of Ramazan to avoid the spread of Corona Virus. Indeed Ramazan is a special month for all the Muslims who particularly throng mosques during this month to offer prayers including Taraweeh in order to seek God Almighty’s mercy and blessings. However, this year situation warranted that necessary precautionary measures are put in place in advance to avoid spread of the contagion, which has affected people in almost every country and region. Some Muslim countries like Saudi Arabia have resorted to tougher restrictions with Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz, highest religious authority in the Kingdom, asking Muslims to offer prayers during Ramazan at homes, PTI government and religious scholars have come up with a comprehensive but supple strategy allowing people to offer prayers at mosques while adhering to precautionary measures. Prominent and important amongst these SOPs are those relating to social distancing especially six feet distance between worshippers and no Iftaar and Sehr gatherings. Since Ramazan is just around the corner, it is also important that these guidelines are widely disseminated through electronic and print media to ensure their full compliance including in far flung areas. These guidelines then must also be pasted outside all mosques. Since guidelines have been chalked out with consensus, therefore, it is incumbent upon every individual to fully respect and practically implement them. In our opinion, this is also according to spirit and teachings of Islam that when an Ijmah is achieved and formed on an issue, it must be respected. We need to act as a responsible, civilised and disciplined nation in these testing times. By following guidelines, people can fulfil their religious obligations without putting themselves or others at risk of attracting the deadly virus. This spirit of consensus and harmony must persist in the days ahead. It will be unfair not to commend President Arif Alvi and Minister for Religious Affairs Noorul Haq Qadri who put in all their efforts over the last few days to timely reach this consensus with clerics. We are confident that religious scholars will continue to back the government in its efforts against the pandemic even if it opts for some tougher restrictions during Ramazan in case of exponential rise in Corona Virus cases. On political front also, both government and opposition parties need to be on the same page. It is not time for politicking or point scoring but all out efforts must be directed towards protecting lives of our people from the pandemic that has wreaked havoc especially in the US and the Europe. Addressing the nation on Saturday, Prime Minister Imran Khan while expressing satisfaction over low trajectory of the virus in Pakistan warned that numbers could rise substantially by the midst of May. Thus responsibility rests with federal and provincial governments to utilise all available resources to fully equip hospitals and health professionals to deal with worst-case scenario. National Coordination Committee on Corona Virus and National Command and Control Centre have indeed proved to be important instruments to ensure greater coordination amongst the federation and the provinces but we will suggest that given the current situation, an all parties conference be convened in order to give impetus to coordinated efforts and give a message of unity to the nation. The President, being head of the state whose office is apolitical in nature may host the conference just like he took on board religious scholars on the matter of Ramazan related prayer congregations. Keeping political differences aside, our top political leadership should put their hearts and minds together to firm up a strategy that not only fights the pandemic but also ensures economic stability in the country. A sort of balancing act, as repeatedly pointed out by Prime Minister, is required to sail through these difficult times.
