Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah has announced that a complete lockdown will be observed in the province on Friday from 12-3pm after a meeting with Ulema, who signaled their support for the decision.
In a meeting with Chairman Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman and other Ulema, the CM said: “I thank all the Ulema for cooperating with us so far. Hopefully, on Saturday, as agreed with the federal government, new SOPs will be drafted for the mosques.” “Everything will be closed during the lockdown, while mosques will remain open for limited congregation,” he said.
“I have told police to not take strict measures against people going into mosques during the lockdown[…] In the meantime I appeal to the public for cooperation,” he said. “The masses should refrain from praying in the mosques,” he said.Mufti Mueeb said that he hoped that a meeting between various stakeholders on April 18 would reach a consensus, and a future road map would be drawn for congregational prayers. The top cleric appealed to the masses and scholars to cooperate with the authorities tomorrow — as several people gather to offer the Friday prayer — and ensure that no unfortunate event takes place.
Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Inter-faith Harmony Noor-ul-Haq Qadri, a day earlier, had invited Mufti Muneeb to attend a meeting on April 18 where a joint decision over Friday prayers and Itikaf will be taken.
On Tuesday, Noor-ul-Haq Qadri, had urged ulema to develop consensus rather than take individual decisions. He said that clerics from all sects would be taken into confidence in the meeting on April 18. Ulema from various schools of thought held a press conference at the Karachi Press Club on Tuesday to declare that the lockdown will no longer be implemented at mosques.
