Ulema assure Sarwar of acting upon govt advisory

LAHORE : Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar held a meeting with more than 35 ulema, including Pakistan Ulema Council Chairman Maulana Tahir Ashrafi and Wifaqul Madaris Nazim-e-Aala (chief administrator) Maulana Hanif Jalandhari.

While assuring the Punjab governor of their full cooperation regarding the 20-point advisory of the government for Ramazan-ul-Mobarak, the ulema also appealed to the faithful to follow the government measures. Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar said that the government does not want to close mosques and madaris (religious seminaries) at any cost but precautionary measures against coronavirus have become inevitable. Ulema have exemplary role in fighting out corona pandemic. “We all jointly have to defeat corona to protect 220 million Pakistanis. We will not leave alone poor affected by corona crisis,” the Punjab governor said.

The ulema belong to different schools of thought, including Rabta-tul-Madaris President Maulana Abdul Malik, Wifaqul Madaris Shia Council’s Vice-President Allama Niaz Hussain Naqvi, Badshahi Mosque Khateeb Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad, Allama Ibtesam Elahi Zaheer and Jamia Naeemia Chief Administrator Dr Raghib Hussain Naeemi, called on Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar at Governor’s House on Saturday. Federal government’s measures regarding Ramazanul Mibarak and other matters were discussed on the occasion.

Speaking on this occasion, Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar said that no doubt, the situation is aggravating due to coronavirus, therefore, it is need of the hour that ulema and all other segments of society fulfil their responsibility. “The government earlier had also taken the ulema on board while deciding about the routine in mosques and madaris and in future we will also take along the ulema as we cannot ignore their role at any cost. We appeal to the ulema to form committees at the mosque level for implementation of the 20-point policy of government during Ramazan-ul-Mobarak so that the faithful do not face any difficulty while saying prayers.” Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) Chairman Maulana Tahir Ashrafi said “Whatever points the government has chalked out in consultation with the ulema, In Sha Allah, we will implement these fully and I assure you that cooperation will also be extended to police and other departments on security and other matters in this regard.” He said the war against corona has now become the war of the entire Pakistani nation.

Meanwhile, PUC leadership stated that conditional permission for saying prayers in mosques during the holy month of Ramazan in the wake of coronavirus pandemic is good and now responsibility rests with the public to adopt preventive measures against coronavirus.

Irresponsible conduct amidst the prevailing coronavirus lockdown by the public could possibly lead to lockdown of mosques, they said.