'Ulema urged to strictly implement agreed 20-point action plan'

The minister said the government decided to observe “Youm-e-Tauba and Youm-e-Rehmat” on Friday

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Noorul Haq Qadri on Monday said that Prime Minister Imran Khan has asked Ulema of  different sects to strictly implement 20-point agreed action plan devised to follow the precautionary measures in mosques.

Talking to media after meeting Ulema and Mashaikh in Islamabad, he said that the Ulema and Mashaikh have assured their full cooperation on the matters relating to congregational prayers at mosques during lockdown.

The minister said that the government decided to observe “Youm-e-Tauba and Youm-e-Rehmat” on Friday April 24, adding that the role of Ulema during the current situation is very important.

Qadri said that the prime minister has told the Ulema that the government had made a difficult decision to open mosques in view of the coronavirus outbreak in the country.

The religious affairs minister went on to say that the Ulema requested PM Imran to take steps to adopt a soft policy to open the holy Quran publishing institutions to which he assured the religious leaders of taking special actions.

Meanwhile, Special Assistant to the PM on Information and Broadcasting Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan said that the role of Ulema and scholars in fight against coronavirus is vital. It has been decided that mosques will remain open throughout the country while prayers will be offered following the safety measures, she said.

The special assistant said Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed to release all clerics, worshippers who were arrested for violating restrictions on mosques.

She said on the demand of Ulema, Prime Minister has directed Finance Ministry to prepare a framework for interest free loans to Madaras.

Dr Firdous said Prime Minister has also asked his economic advisers to seriously look into Mufti Taqi Usmani and Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman’s suggestion of having an interest-free economy.

COVID-19 is a big challenge that we have to deal with the strength of our faith, she added.

Earlier, a delegation of Ulema and Mashaikh called on Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad and assurance him of full coordination to implement the decision of precautionary measures taken by the government.

The delegation included Pir Aminul Hasanat Shah, Pir Shams-ul-Amin, Pir Naqib-ur-Rehman, Maulana Mohammad Hanif Jalandhari, Maulana Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi, Maulana Hamidul Haq Haqqani, Hafiz Ghulam Mohammad Sialvi, Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, Sahibzada Pir Sultan Fayyaz Hussain, Mufti Maulana Syed Charagh Din Shah and Maulana Ziaullah Shah.

Governor Sindh Imran Ismail, Mufti Munib-ur-Rehman, Mufti Taqi Usmani also attended the meeting through video link.

Minister for Federal Education Shafqat Mahmood, Minister for Religious Affairs Noor ul Haq Qadri, Assistant Special Information Minister Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, Chairman Council of Islamic Ideology Dr Qibla Ayaz and others were also present in the meeting.

Allama Shehenshah Hussain Naqvi also attended the meeting through video link.

The religious scholars of the country said that the stance of the prime minister about lockdown is a realistic approach and according ground realities.