1,318 FIRs registered on violation of Section 144

LAHORE:Lahore police ensured strict measures, including implementation of Section 144, to contain the movement of the public during the partial lockdown imposed in the City by the Punjab government in wake of impending coronavirus, DIG Operations Lahore Rai Babar Saeed stated.

While giving details of the overall performance of Lahore Police Operations Wing, DIG Rai Babar Saeed said 90,242 citizens were checked at more than 202 police pickets and more than 82,000 people were stopped from their unnecessary movement and directed to go back to their homes.

Rai Babar Saeed said 1,318 FIRs were registered on violations of Section 144 during the partial lockdown. The DIG Operations stated that 44,294 motorcycles, 11,488 auto-rickshaws, 1868 taxis, 13,030 cars and 4,039 other vehicles were stopped from movement in the City.

The DIG visited different pickets as well to review the arrangements made for checking of citizens and precautionary measures taken by the police personnel deputed at pickets. He made appeal to the citizens to cooperate with police and other law enforcement agencies, and refrain from unnecessary movement in the City.

CCPO: Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Zulfiqar Hameed has said that all sectors will have to cooperate to prevent coronavirus spread.

Closing businesses at 5pm in the evening means 4.30pm. Customers inside stores should leave the stores by 4 o'clock, said the CCPO while talking to a business community delegation which met with him under the leadership of Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Irfan Sheikh.

DIG Operations Rai Babar Saeed was also present. The Lahore police chief urged that the distance should be checked by marking the public dealing offices. “Social distancing must be ensured, no matter how long the queue is. Call police where it feels difficult to implement the restrictions” the CCPO ask the traders. Zulfiqar Hameed made it clear that there was no restriction on the transportation of food, but “use of trucks for transportation of passengers should be avoided.

DIG Operations Rai Babar Saeed told the business community members that only necessary staff should be called to work and rush must be avoided. Repeated announcements to wear masks at stores through a megaphone should be made, he said. LCCI President Irfan Sheikh said, “The business community fully supports government action.

Masks distributed: Onthe directions by CCPO Zulfiqar Hameed, more than 40,000 disposable and washable masks were distributed among the cops to protect them from coronavirus. SP Headquarters Jamil Zafar said 5,000 corona kits had been arranged for field duty officials. Corona kits/personal protective equipment are being used at check posts and during special operations.

Total, 15,000 bottles of sanitizer were provided to the cops. The SP Headquarters Lahore said that 50,000 gloves were given to the police force. “We have managed 500 goggles for police personnel deployed on sensitive duty” he said. Meanwhile, the CCPO made it clear that health of the cops performing public service duty cannot be compromised. “The supply of corona kits, masks and sanitizer will continue,” said the CCPO. He stated that the quarantine centre at the police hospital was fully functional.