KARACHI: The country’s top health experts and medical scientists on Tuesday asked the government and prominent clerics to “review” their consensus decision of holding Friday, Taraweeh and daily congregational prayers calling it “almost impossible” for ulema and mosque managements to make people abide by the precautionary measures to contain the spread of coronavirus.

In a joint letter to the government and the prominent clerics of different schools of thought, the noted health professionals of the country expressed their “strong reservations” over the consensus decision between the federal government and the clerics last week about congregational prayers.

“We felt that the agreement between the government and the ulema council was based on relatively robust principles; however, we have a few but strong reservations based on early observations, which we would kindly like to bring to your notice,” said the letter.

The letter was signed by Dr Abdul Bari Khan, Dr Faisal Mahmood, Dr Khurum Khan, Dr Shamvil Ashraf, Dr Saad Niaz, Dr Abdul Basit, Dr Hanif Chatni, Dr Muhammad Razi, Dr Fareed Shah, Dr Zahid Jamal, Dr Yahya Chawla, Dr Mughees Makka and Dr Raza Sayyed.

The doctors also asked the government and the clerics to review the situation considering the cultural and discipline barrier in society.

An important fact, the letter said, was the need to understand and consider the social fibre of Pakistani society where mismanagement, indiscipline and not following or obeying the rules was predominantly common.

“With such habits and behavioural patterns, this is almost impossible for Ulema-i-Karam, mosques’ management and administration to make people abide by the conditions mentioned in the consensus document, especially in densely populated areas of the country where people are generally not educated and unable to comprehend the consequences of such violations,” said the letter.

“In case, if we’re comparing the situation of mosques with that of businesses and shops, it is not a valid comparison. However, on the other hand we are also requesting the government administration and business community to practise patience and keep the markets and non-essential shops [closed] and only home deliveries should be allowed.”

On the same token any other worldly matters leading to public gatherings and interactions should also be curtailed in exactly the same fashion, it said.

“We strongly advise the government that there shouldn’t be a softer stance on other day-to-day activities as the coronavirus will not distinguish people based on the nature of the activities but the strength, quantity and duration of such gatherings,” said the doctors.

“Based on the reasons summarised above, we respectfully and humbly ask you to review your recent decision regarding the mosques and request you to please take a step back to the previous position of only allowing up to five namazis in the mosques as this is in the best interest of Islam, Pakistan, our respected Islamic scholars and the general public.”

Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2020