Karachi police ban visits to graveyards for 'Shab-e-Barat' commemorations

KARACHI: Citizens in the metropolis are not allowed to visit graveyards for 'Shab-e-Barat', the city's police chief, Ghulam Nabi Memon, said on Wednesday.

Memon said that the city police had set up pickets at 200 points to ensure that the daily lockdown is observed. 

The people are requested not to pray in congregations in the mosques, he urged. 

A complete lockdown will be enforced after 5pm — as it is every day, he had noted.

During Shab-e-Barat, a large number of people visit graves of their dear ones while seeking God's blessings for the departed souls.

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Shab-e-Barat, the night of reverence, is observed with great religious zeal across the country.

The number of coronavirus cases in Karachi's East, South, Central, West, Malir, and Korangi districts stood at 159, 110, 93, 66, 44, and 36, respectively, a day earlier.

'Pray indoors during 'Shab-e-Barat', ask for forgiveness'

On Tuesday, the Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) had said that the citizenry should observe a 'Shab-e-Tauba' (night of forgiveness) instead of a 'Shab-e-Barat'.

The council said that people should pray at home and that congregations in mosques will not be allowed to be held.

"Offer all your prayers indoors," the council had urged as Pakistan's coronavirus tally shot past 4,000 late Tuesday.

Maulana Tahir Ashrafi reminded the people that getting into fights with police and authorities on the occasion was not permissible.

"Offer two rakats namaz and ask God for forgiveness and His mercy to get rid of this pandemic," Ashrafi said.