Ramazan 2020: Sindh govt bans congregational Taraweeh prayers in mosques

KARACHI: The Sindh government banned congregational Taraweeh prayers in mosques on Thursday in light of the coronavirus outbreak, as cases of the pandemic crossed the 11,000 mark last night.

In a late night message, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah announced the measure and hoped that the country’s ulema will support him. “We have taken the decision after consulting with doctors, medical experts. I request Ulema to cooperate with the government,” he said in a video message.

He clarified that mosques throughout the province will remain open and Taraweeh prayers will be held but only by the mosque staff. He said that the top doctors in Karachi had expressed their concerns during a press conference and similar sentiments were shared by the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Punjab.

Update on decisions taken in light of developing #Covid_19 situation: pic.twitter.com/zZAooxG8J8

— Murad Ali Shah (@MuradAliShahPPP) April 23, 2020

Murad said that even if the government was taking the wrong decisions, God will forgive it as the intentions were to save people’s lives. “Even if we were making wrong decisions, Allah will forgive us as our intentions are good,” he said.

He said that stores and shopping malls not following the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) were closed. “Small traders are cooperating, therefore, they have been allowed to deliver their products to customers but explained that no one would be allowed to visit shops in markets,” he said.

CM Shah also said that the decision does not deviate from the agreement reached between the federal government and the Ulema about congregational prayers in mosques.