Tuesday, March 31, 2020
#Coronavirus and Islam: Pakistani clerics refuse to shut down mosques
Haroon Janjua
As Islamic clerics refuse to stop allowing religious congregations, Prime Minister Imran Khan continues to downplay the coronavirus threat to his country. Could this be a "recipe for disaster" for Pakistan?Last week, Pakistani President Arif Alvi and provincial governors held a meeting with Sunni and Shiite clerics to convince them to close mosques for congregational prayers across the country amid rapidly increasing COVID-19 cases in the country. The clerics, however, rejected the request.
"We can in no way close mosques ... It is not possible in any circumstances in an Islamic country," said Muneeb-bur-Rehman, a cleric who attended the meeting.
The clerics' blatant refusal to shun collective prayers has raised doubts about Pakistan's resolve to fight the pandemic, which has killed at least 25 people in the country and infected nearly 2,000.
Earlier in March, when coronavirus cases in Pakistan were relatively lower, the federal government allowed Shiite pilgrims from Iran to return to the country through Baluchistan province.The pilgrims were not properly quarantined, which resulted in a spike of infections. Also, the government allowed thousands of Sunni worshippers to go ahead with the "Tablighi Jamaat" congregation in Pubjab province. Many of the new COVID-19 cases have emerged from that mass gathering.Health experts say the government's measures are inadequate, fearing that the number of coronavirus cases in the South Asian country could increase exponentially in the coming weeks.
Civil society activists say that Pakistani authorities continue to appease Islamists even when the country is facing a worsening public health crisis.
Clerics' defiance
Many Pakistanis have refused to offer their prayers inside their homes, saying that religion is more important than anything else.
"I offered prayers in the mosque on Friday. More than 300 people were in attendance and it looked like a routine Friday prayer," Muhammad Ashraf, a kiosk-owner in Islamabad, told DW.
"The mosque is a safe place. I don't fear coronavirus," Ashraf said, adding that he intended to attend the next Friday prayer as well.
Many Islamic countries have shut down mosques and banned mass prayers after the emergence of coronavirus cases. Saudi Arabia even closed down Islam's holiest site, the Kaaba, and other sacred mosques to contain the spread of COVID-19. But even these examples did not deter many Pakistanis.
"The pandemic is spreading due to our sins and because we are not following the teachings of Islam," Ejaz Ashrafi, a senior cleric belonging to the Tehreek-i-Labaik (TLP) Islamist party, told DW.
Ashrafi leads the Friday prayer at a mosque in the eastern city of Lahore. "People are still going to super markets, yet the state only wants to shut down mosques. We will continue to offer prayers in the mosques," he said.Fawad Chaudhary, the federal minister of science and technology, told media that the coronavirus is spreading in Pakistan "due to the ignorance of religious clerics." Islamist groups decried Chaudhary's statement.Rights groups say the government must act strictly against the clerics who are defying its orders.
"The laws clearly state that anyone who deliberately spreads diseases should be imprisoned or fined. Prime Minister Imran Khan's government seems to be completely helpless," Osama Malik, an Islamabad-based legal expert, told DW.
Khan reluctant to impose a lockdown
On Monday, Prime Minister Khan spoke to the nation in a televised address (his third in the past three weeks) and argued that the country did not need a complete lockdown. He said that his government could have shut down entire cities but chose not to do it because at least 25% of the country's population would have died of hunger.
Khan's own dislike for a lockdown has emboldened those who are downplaying the virus threat to Pakistan, say experts.
Health experts say there is lack of awareness about COVID-19 among people who are not taking the disease seriously.
In contrast to Khan's "strategy," provincial chief ministers have favored the lockdown. Sindh's CM Murad Ali Shah of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) has successfully implemented it to contain the virus's spread in the province. Political analysts say that the powerful Pakistani military is assisting provinces in enforcing the partial lockdown.
"Lockdown is the only way to stop the virus from spreading. The cases are expected to rise in the coming weeks if religious gatherings are not banned across the country. Clerics should understand the seriousness of the situation," Dr. Qaisar Sajjad, secretary general of Pakistan Medical Association, told DW.
https://www.dw.com/en/coronavirus-and-islam-pakistani-clerics-refuse-to-shut-down-mosques/a-52969639
#PPP #CoronaVirusPakistan - Bilawal Bhutto - The government cannot do everything alone, philanthropists have to come forward to help
MARCH 27 -
A video link meeting of Larkana District was convened under the aegis of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to discuss measures taken for the prevention of COVID19. Ms. Faryal Talpur, Jamil Ahmed Soomro, Sohail Anwar Siyal and Larkana Mayor Khair Mohammad Shaikh participated.Speaking to the participants of the meeting, Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that he would not leave the people of Larkana alone at such a time.
He directed the Sindh government to ensure fair distribution of rations to the poor during lockdown, no matter what the case. ‘The government cannot do everything alone, philanthropists have to come forward to help us care for our communities.He once again insisted on the need for a complete lockdown, saying that only the complete implementation of the lockdown can yield desired results.
He asked the Larkana administration to engage with local social influencers to spread the message of the importance of social distancing.
Larkana Commissioner Saleem Khuru, DIG Irfan Baloch, Deputy Commissioner Noman Siddique, Larkana Senior Superintendent of Police Masood Bangash, District Health Officer Dr Athar, Chairman District Council, Chandka Medical College, PPHI and IHS duty managers were also present.
On the occasion, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari made inquiries regarding the prevention of the coronavirus in Larkana, at which Larkana district administration officials briefed him and informed him that four quarantine centers have been established in Larkana, where 83 people are quarantined.
According to the administration, seven cases of coronavirus have been reported in Larkana whilst they have tested more than 600 people who had returned from Iran and Arab countries.
Speaking on the occasion, Jamil Soomro said that the social distance between farmers is being implemented in Larkana during the harvesting period.
The PPP Chairman directed the Larkana district administration to support local farmers so that food supply chain would not be disrupted.
He told the police officers that during lockdown, the officers and officers should improve their attitude to the citizens as much as possible. Police should not misuse their powers.
On this occasion, Ms. Faryal Talpur stressed that we have to create a system in Larkana that should ensure no one in the district goes hungry.
Locals in Larkana are most affected with the lockdown as they solely are dependent on local transport revenue, Jamil Soomro said.
Sohail Anwar Siyal said that all the directives of the PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will be implemented in letter and spirit no matter the cost .
https://www.ppp.org.pk/2020/03/27/the-government-cannot-do-everything-alone-philanthropists-have-to-come-forward-to-help/
He directed the Sindh government to ensure fair distribution of rations to the poor during lockdown, no matter what the case. ‘The government cannot do everything alone, philanthropists have to come forward to help us care for our communities.He once again insisted on the need for a complete lockdown, saying that only the complete implementation of the lockdown can yield desired results.
He asked the Larkana administration to engage with local social influencers to spread the message of the importance of social distancing.
Larkana Commissioner Saleem Khuru, DIG Irfan Baloch, Deputy Commissioner Noman Siddique, Larkana Senior Superintendent of Police Masood Bangash, District Health Officer Dr Athar, Chairman District Council, Chandka Medical College, PPHI and IHS duty managers were also present.
On the occasion, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari made inquiries regarding the prevention of the coronavirus in Larkana, at which Larkana district administration officials briefed him and informed him that four quarantine centers have been established in Larkana, where 83 people are quarantined.
According to the administration, seven cases of coronavirus have been reported in Larkana whilst they have tested more than 600 people who had returned from Iran and Arab countries.
Speaking on the occasion, Jamil Soomro said that the social distance between farmers is being implemented in Larkana during the harvesting period.
The PPP Chairman directed the Larkana district administration to support local farmers so that food supply chain would not be disrupted.
He told the police officers that during lockdown, the officers and officers should improve their attitude to the citizens as much as possible. Police should not misuse their powers.
On this occasion, Ms. Faryal Talpur stressed that we have to create a system in Larkana that should ensure no one in the district goes hungry.
Locals in Larkana are most affected with the lockdown as they solely are dependent on local transport revenue, Jamil Soomro said.
Sohail Anwar Siyal said that all the directives of the PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will be implemented in letter and spirit no matter the cost .
https://www.ppp.org.pk/2020/03/27/the-government-cannot-do-everything-alone-philanthropists-have-to-come-forward-to-help/
Imran Khan’s policies are detrimental for people
Information Secretary Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians Dr. Nafisa Shah said that it is unfortunate that Imran Khan could not understand the purpose and advantage of lockdown despite the fact there is no other option to save people’s lives.
Dr. Shah said that Imran Khan is insisting on his faulty policy because Chairman PPP and his team has been successful in the policy they adopted to deal with coronavirus and thus save the nation from this virus in time. Imran Khan is telling lies to the nation with consistency and misguiding the people of Pakistan.
Information Secretary PPPP said that Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa did not follow Imran Khan’s directives and the lockdown was followed by both the provinces and thus the people of both the provinces were saved from Imran Khan’s antics. The federal government should take immediate measures against coronavirus spread, she demanded.
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