Abdullah Malik
ISLAMABAD: People in hundreds attended Friday congregation in different mosque of the federal capital Islamabad despite strict lockdown announced by the capital administration due to the outbreak of the novel deadly coronavirus The Frontier Post has learnt from field visits.
According to the Islamabad’s capital administration notification issued two weeks ago section, 144 imposed in the federal capital and all political, social and religious gatherings are prohibited in Islamabad but few mosque followed the precautionary measure announced by the administration.
According to credible source of Islamabad police around 60 percent mosque in federal capital violated the laws and the Khateeb announced in their sermons that no one will followed the social distancing inside mosques during Friday prayers. He added that message was conveyed to high-ups and hopefully the police and administration will implement a strict strategy on coming Friday.
It’s pertained to mentioned here that crowded Friday congregation was performed in Jamia-Zikria & Jamia Sadeed-e-Akbar including other places.
A video went viral on social media outlets on Friday of the firebrand Maulana Abdul Aziz of Lal-Masjid where more than 500 people attended Friday congregation while he directed the people to avoid social distancing and stand close to each other no one will be infected from virus I am responsible according to the eye witness and visible in video as well.
When The Frontier Post contacted Spokesperson of Lal-Masjid Hafiz Ihtisham regarding the issue he replied to this scribe that since the lockdown implemented following the section-144 we never followed the SOPs forwarded by the administration. He added that since three weeks people in hundreds attending Friday congregation and Maulana Abdul Aziz is leading the Friday prayer.
He endorsed the direction of Aziz on Friday and added that Mualana sab mentioned in sermon that if you came here to offer Friday prayer then you will not follow social distancing because this practice is against Sharia and that’s why people endorsed his direction.
The spokesman added that Maulna sab meet with dozens of people in mosque on Friday according to his announcement in sermon.
The Frontier Post made repeated attempts to get official version of the Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Muhammad Hamza Shafqat but he didn’t respond till filing this report.
