SOPs for Muharram-ul-Haram ready after govt, ulema form consensus

ISLAMABAD: The federal government and religious scholars have agreed to implement standard operating procedures (SOPs) to stem the spread of coronavirus through Muharram-ul-Haram processions and gatherings.

The safety measures were finalised in a meeting with prominent ulema convened by President Arif Alvi on Thursday at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.

Religious Affairs Minister Pir Nurul Haq Qadri, Interior Minister Brig (retd) Aijaz Shah, Governor Punjab Chaudhry Sarwar, Allama Arif Wahidi, Raja Nasir Abbas, Dr Ghazanfar Mehdi, Allama Qamar Haider Zaidi, Raja Basharat Imami, and Allama Sajjad Naqvi attended the meeting.

Governors from other provinces, President Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Sardar Masood Khan, Allama Afzal Haidri and Allama Hussain Akbar from Punjab, Allama Shahanshah Naqvi, Allama Syed Ali Iqrar Naqvi and Allama Furqan Haider from Sindh, Allama Abid Shakiri and Allama Irshad Khalili from KP, Allama Syed Hashim Mosvi and Allama Sheikh Juma Asadi from Balochistan, and Mufti Kifayat Hussain Naqvi from the AJK participated through video link.

Addressing the meeting, President Alvi lauded the religious scholars for extending cooperation during the holy month of Ramazan and Eid-ul-Fitr to contain the spread of COVID-19 and expected similar cooperation again.

SOPs unanimously agreed by the scholars for Azadari and Majalis

- Social distancing would be observed.

- Sitting places should be marked in the Imambargahs.

- Wearing masks is mandatory and no one will be allowed to enter without a mask. The Imambargahs' administration can provide masks outside the entrances.

- The use of carpets should be avoided. Disinfected mats can be laid outside the Imambargahs.

- If there are carpets, they may be sprayed with chlorine daily.

- The same SOPs should be followed in the case of Majalis at homes.

- Avoid holding long meetings because of coronavirus. Meetings should be started and ended on time.

- Elderly people should refrain from attending general meetings and should be restricted to Majalis at home only.

- The participants of the Majalis should not bring Tasbeeh, prayer mat, etc. with them.

- Hand-shakes and embracing people etc. should be avoided.

- Parcels should be arranged instead of Tabarak and Niaz at Majalis.

- Touching of Alam, Taziya, and Shabeeh should be avoided. Ziyarat should be done from a distance.

- Azadari organisers should stay in liaison with the local administration and cooperate. Licensed and traditional processions will be allowed during Muharram by adopting precautionary measures (SOPs).

SOPs for Mourning, Ashura, and Muharram processions

- Licensed and traditional processions will be allowed during Muharram by adopting precautionary measures (SOPs).

- The use of face-masks and hand-sanitisers is mandatory in the processions.

- Adequate distance should be maintained between the persons in the processions.

- Avoid using shared utensils while drinking water.

- SOPs implementation should be ensured through volunteer scouts.

- The number of participants should be kept reasonable, and time should be limited.

- Elderly and people suffering from various diseases should not be allowed to participate in the processions.

At the end of the meeting, the scholars also appreciated the president's role in maintaining national unity and harmony between different schools of thought.