People have to be persuaded intellectually on restricting congregational prayers: FM Qureshi.

ISLAMABAD -- Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Friday said people have to be persuaded intellectually on the issue of restricting congregational prayers at mosques.

A notification issued by provincial governments early Friday stated that under Section (2) of The West Pakistan Epidemic Disease Act 1958, only three to five people, designated for Masjid [Mosque], would be allowed offer prayers in congregation and the general public would offer prayers at homes.

'Merely taking out a notification would not resolve the issue of restricting congregational prayers at mosques,' FM Qureshi said. 'People have to be convinced intellectually. All religious scholars also agreed that it should be...