Prime Minister Imran Khan Tuesday advised the nation to pray at home during the Ramazan and warned that if the coronavirus spread in a mosque, then it would be closed.
He was expressing these views while chairing a high level meeting here which discussed the coronavirus situation and the related matters.
President General of the Two Holy Mosques Sheikh Dr. Abdurrahman bin Abdulaziz Al Sudais has said the duration of Taraveeh prayers had been limited to 10 Rakaat due to the novel coronavirus and these would be offered in Masjid al Haram and Masjid-e-Nabwi (SAW).
Taraveeh special night prayers performed during the holy month of Ramazan will be held without public attendance at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s (SAW) Mosque, said Abdurrahman Al Sudais in a statement. Taraveeh will be performed mainly with the staff, he said. The statement also said Aitikaf had been cancelled at both the mosques. It also said that Umrah pilgrimage will remain suspended until further notice.
Imran said like Pakistan, other Islamic countries had also asked their public to stay and pray at home. He said the lockdown restrictions would further relax gradually. “We are trying our best to ease difficulties being faced by the people during these difficult times,” he said.
“In an independent society we cannot stop people from going to mosques,” said the premier. The PM said the government has formed a strategy through consultation with Ulema for congregational prayers in Ramazan so that Muslims can say prayers in mosques. “But I will urge people to offer prayers at their homes,” he suggested.
“If the virus spreads, we will have no other option but to impose a ban on congregational prayers,” he explained. He maintained that 20 points had been agreed upon after a meeting of religious scholars with President Dr. Arif Alvi and the Ulema had agreed to abide by those points during the Ramazan.
“And if the virus spread due to violation of the safety precautions, then the mosques would have to be shut down, which none wanted. Earlier, he launched the Ehsaas Ration Portal to provide food to the families affected by the virus. Data on the deserving families would be collected and the process would be made transparent.
Imran said decisions about opening various sectors were being taken in mutual consultation with the provinces. He said first the cement industry and then the construction sector was opened after handing SOPs over to them to prevent the spread of the virus.
With the passage of time, he said the lockdown would be eased and more facilitation made for people in consultation with the provinces. He contended that questions were being raised by some sections that while the mosques were closed in other Islamic countries, why these had been opened in Pakistan.
“We are a free nation. It sounded bad to me when I saw police beating violators of the lockdown with batons. People have tendency for going to mosques for prayers during Ramazan. Should they be stopped by use of force?” he asked.
The prime minister continued that the police could not be used to bar people from going to mosques and asked if they still insisted togo, should they be put in jails by the police. In a free society, he said, people should decide with a free mind what is good for the country.
He emphasized that the ongoing war against the coronavirus could be won with a collective resolve and action of the nation and with their active participation in the drive.
Imran said the whole world was facing the negative impacts of the virus and several countries were witnessing higher number of mortalities due to the virus, but now they were also debating the economic impact of lockdown.
He said people across the globe now wanted their governments to ease the lockdown so that restart economic activity could restart. Imran said unfortunately 192 persons had lost their lives in Pakistan so far, while in US, 40,000 had died and 20,000 each in Italy and Spain.
“There are countries where 500 to 2,000 people are daily dying. However, their governments are now discussing about easing the lockdown, as it could not remain in force in any country for an indefinite period.
He pointed out again that Pakistan was facing the dual challenge of overcoming the virus pandemic and saving its people from hunger.
“Our government decided to relax the lockdown gradually by opening the cement sector first and then construction industry and the industries that are being opened will have to follow the SOPs given by the government,” he said.
The prime minister said the Corona Tiger Force was unduly being criticized and made controversial by the opposition.
He explained that the force comprised volunteers and would be working without any remuneration or political affiliation.
“They will disseminate information as well as deliver ration to the people on their doorstep and help the authorities in locating the deserving persons, as the government on its own can’t reach out to all,” he noted.
He again warned the hoarders and smugglers of a strong action under the related ordinance and called those exploiting people for their undue benefit as the nation’s criminals.
Minister Planning and Development Asad Umar said a consensus had been evolved among all the provinces on testing, tracking and isolation, and pilot tests in one or two districts of each province.
He said a smart lockdown would be implemented in high-risk areas and in next few days, it would be put in operation from district to tehsil and union council level.
He explained that the technology-based mechanism would have representation down to the union council level from the federal government and the civil and the military institutions would also be part of it.
He said India peddled a narrative that the virus was spread by pushing people into India through the AJK and then the Indian Muslims were blamed for it and now it was blaming Pakistan.
He made it clear that Pakistan had no interest in such things, as it always wanted an environment of peace and brotherhood. Focal person on Corona Dr. Faisal said Pakistan was relatively in a better position than many developed countries of the world.
However, he insisted, “We need to keep this by following the precautionary measures strictly. We hope that things would be better through the smart lockdown, ensuring protection of people and their livelihood”.
Special Assistant to the PM on Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection Dr. Sania Nishtar said more than Rs60 billion had been disbursed among the needy and deserving people under the Ehsaas Emergency Cash programme. She expressed optimism that the programme will be able to reach 120 million families.
She said the prime minister inaugurated the Ehsaas Ration Portal in which charities and philanthropic organizations could register themselves. “This program will help daily wagers, who are not able to work due to the lockdown, to get ration,” she said. Minister for Industries Hammad Azhar said a large package will be presented in a meeting of the National Coordination Committee on Wednesday (today).
After its approval by the National Coordination Committee (NCC) and the federal cabinet, it would be advertised in the media. This package aims at helping people who have lost their jobs due to lockdown, he explained.
He said another package was being brought for electricity and it would be launched later this month. He said small and medium businesses with commercial meters will benefit from this package.
The minister said the government was working with the Ministry of Finance and the State Bank of Pakistan to introduce a scheme of loans for people having no collateral to offer.
Special Assistant to the PM on National Security Dr. Moeed Yusuf said Torkham and Chaman crossings had been opened and a specified number of Pakistanis had started returning from Afghanistan. He said the border with India was closed but some Pakistanis had returned while the Foreign Office was on it for the return of the rest.
He said as soon as border with India opened, more Pakistanis will be able to return home.
