The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Friday rejected a petition against the ban imposed on congregational prayers to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
An application submitted to the SHC maintained that the provincial government’s decision to close mosques is a violation of fundamental rights and the law does not permit the government to stop citizens from offering Friday prayers in mosques.
However, the SHC remarked that the government was exercising its powers to protect human life and the court cannot interfere in policy matters.
The deputy attorney general further stated that religious scholars from various sects will be meeting with President Arif Alvi on April 18 (tomorrow) to discuss policies pertaining to Ramazan and congregational prayers.
Addressing the court, Additional Advocate General Sindh Jawad Dero clarified that mosques had not been closed, instead, number of people entering the mosques had been restricted, to prevent the spread of the virus that has already affected over 20 million people worldwide.
The government, earlier this week, decided to consult with religious scholars to chalk out a strategy for taraweeh prayers during the holy month of Ramazan as it extended the countrywide lockdown for two weeks
President Dr Arif Alvi will convene a virtual meeting of governors and religious scholars from all provinces on April 18 to listen to their proposals for prayers during the holy month and devise a policy.
President Alvi met Interior Minister Ijaz Shah and Religious Affairs Minister Noorul Haq Qadri at the Presidency and decided that recommendations and guidelines would be sought from the participants of the meeting on taraweeh prayers in view of the viral outbreak.
