Despite warning from government authorities regarding the outbreak of coronavirus, annual Raiwind Tableeghi Ijtema has started in Lahore. The city’s administration had requested the Tableeghi Jamat to postpone their Ijtema, but they refused to do so.

Considering effects of the deadly coronavirus, even the government of Saudi Arabia restricted the pilgrims from entering Masjid-al-Haram and Masjid-al-Nabawi. Iran also temporarily stopped Jumma congregations in the country.

Geo News reported that Commissioner Lahore Saif Anjum had negotiated with the organisers of Raiwind Ijtema and had told them about the current situation regarding the outbreak of coronavirus. The report quoted the commissioner as saying that “we had requested them to postpone the ijtema considering the risk of people contracting coronavirus, yet they went ahead with it.”

He said the authorities have designed a 10-bed isolation ward for the participants, and that every local and foreign attendee would be screened properly.

So far, 18 cases of novel coronavirus have been reported in Pakistan, and all the patients diagnosed with the virus had visited Iran. According to Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Zafar Mirza, a patient, who contracted coronavirus has recovered, and another is ready to discharge from the hospital.