WORLD NEWS APRIL 3, 2020 / 3:27 AM / UPDATED 2 HOURS AGO
Pakistan, Bangladesh try to stop Friday prayers to avert coronavirus spike
Gibran Naiyyar Peshimam, Ruma Paul
5 MIN READ
ISLAMABAD/DHAKA (Reuters) - Police in Pakistan will enforce a strict lockdown to prevent people from going to mosques to offer Friday prayers and fuel a rise in coronavirus infection, officials said, after failing to prevent large congregations last week.
Health experts have warned of an epidemic in South Asia, home to a fifth of the worlds population, that could easily overwhelm its weak public health systems.
But authorities in Pakistan and Bangladesh, another Muslim majority nation, and even India have struggled to persuade conservative religious groups to maintain social distancing in order to curb the spread of the virus.
The government in Pakistans southern province of Sindh, home to the countrys largest city, Karachi, will enforce a curfew-like lockdown for three hours beginning 12 noon Friday to deter people from coming out of their homes for prayers, officials said.
In the greater interest of saving lives, a decision to ban the prayer congregations at mosques has been taken following a meeting of clerics from all schools of thought. Islamic Sharia allows it, said Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Sindhs minister for local bodies and information.
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