Lal Masjid cleric booked for defying COVID-19 lockdown orders

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad Police on Saturday registered another case against former prayer leader of Lal Masjid Maulana Abdul Aziz on charges of defying the government’s ban on Friday prayers.

According to police sources, the Abpara police booked Aziz and Abdul Sattar for violating the section 144, which was imposed to make sure implementation of social distancing steps to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Sources said this is the second time the cleric has been booked for the same offence, but he is yet to be arrested.

The government has banned prayers as part of precautionary steps to stop the spread of COVID-19. According to the police, cleric Aziz held the weekly prayers without taking any preventive measures against Covid-19 and also displayed weapons.

Meanwhile, President Dr. Arif Alvi has said that a 20-point strategy has been agreed upon for people and mosques to follow during the holy month of Ramazan.

Addressing a press conference, after meeting with Ulema, President Alvi said that it was necessary to consult with religious leaders before taking any decisions regarding Ramazan.

The President asserted that the 20-point strategy, based on precautionary measures, was formulated in consensus with religious leaders and provincial governments to halt the spread of COVID-19.

The number of positive coronavirus cases in the federal capital has reached 163. Pakistan has so far registered 7,638 cases of the disease, including 143 deaths.