Sindh bans, Centre restricts congregational prayers to curb coronavirus.

KARACHI / ISLAMABAD -- The Sindh government on Thursday decided to ban congregational prayers at mosques to stem the rapidly growing novel coronavirus cases while the Centre 'restricted' the number of worshippers.

The ban in Sindh will remain in place from March 27 to April 5. Only three to five people - primarily the administrative staff - will offer the daily five-time and Friday prayers at mosques. The restrictions will also apply to religious places of other faiths.

'The decision has been made after consultations with religious scholars belonging to all schools of thought and medical experts,' tweeted Murtaza Wahab, the spokesperson for the provincial government.

Speaking to a private TV channel, Wahab said mosques had not been closed and prayers would be offered there but it was necessary to limit the number of worshippers to curb the spread of the disease.

Earlier, the federal government announced that congregational prayers at mosques would be restricted to a limited number of worshippers.

Religious Affairs Minister Noorul Haq Qadri said a consensus had been reached during President Arif Alvi's meeting with clerics belonging to all schools of thought earlier in the day that mosques would not be closed and only their administrative staff and a reduced number of people would be allowed to offer prayers there.

'The National Coordination Committee on COVID-19 has decided that mosques would not be closed,' he announced while addressing a news conference. 'Azaan and Zikr will continue at mosques.'

The minister added that clerics had been asked to tell people to pray at their homes. 'It's not only the government's job to control the spread of the virus, but people also need to take responsibility.'

According to a statement issued by the President's office, religious scholars assured

President Alvi that they would 'comply with the instructions' issued by the government to curb the coronavirus pandemic and 'support its efforts'.

The president highlighted the preventive measures which needed to be taken by the people to stop the disease from spreading,' the statement read. 'He emphasised that the only solution to the present crisis was to maintain social distancing and act upon the guidelines provided by Islam to cope with such a situation.'

The clerics informed the president that they had already taken a number of steps including cancellation of religious...