‘Police using delaying tactics to end cases against imams’

Karachi-based religious scholars in a meeting on Thursday reiterated their support to the Sindh government’s decision to limit number of worshippers at the Friday prayers in a bid to curb the spread of coronavirus. However, they also expressed concerns on what they described as harassment and a negative propaganda against members of the Tablighi Jamaat.

The meeting was held at the Jamia Farooqia. It was presided over by Dr Maulana Adil Khan and attended by religious scholars, including Qari Muhammad Usman, Maulana Muhamamd Tayyab, Dr Qasim Mehsmood, Dr Allah Dad, Maulana Ejaz Mustafa, Maulana Gul Muhamamd Taloni and Qazi Fakharul Hasan.

The meeting participants discussed the situation that emerged because of the spread of coronavirus and the lockdown, and the government's efforts to counter it. They expressed concerns over “the delaying tactics being used to withdraw the cases registered against imams” for violating the government's restriction for Friday congregations on March 27.

“Despite Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah’s directives to withdraw the cases against all clerics unconditionally, police have been delaying the process and asking them to submit affidavits and apology letters,” said the statement issued jointly by them.

They said Karachi’s religious leaders had not only announced support to the government's efforts to limit the coronavirus spread but also educating the people about the precautionary methods. “But the administration's attitude has been giving a wrong impression that there is a clash between the Sindh government and religious circles.”

They also shown concerns over “harassment and a negative propaganda against the members of the Tablighi Jamaat” in various parts of Sindh and Punjab. They said no unjust attitude with the missionary movement would be tolerated.

The religious scholars also offered condolence prayers for Chairman, Printer, Publisher of the Jang Group, Mir Javed Rahman, who passed away on Tuesday.

After the meeting, a delegation of the religious scholars headed by Qari Muhammad Usman met with Karachi police chief Ghulam Nabi Memon and “complained about the police officers’ harsh behaviours with the imams”.