41 arrested for flouting markets’ closure ban

Rawalpindi : Widespread fear of coronavirus disrupted the routine life as citizens in the state of panic remained purchasing vegetables, rice, sugar, ghee, cooking oil, surf, soap, chicken, meat, toilet roll, tissue papers, milk here on Sunday.

According to a notification issued by Home Department on Saturday, shopping mall and markets will remain closed with effect from 9pm Saturday to Tuesday 9am to make social distancing so that people could be saved from devastating effects of coronavirus. To restrict people from social gatherings, the Punjab Home Department imposed Section 144 in the province to tackle the spread of coronavirus. However, the groceries and milks shops would remain open.

On the other hand the local management with the help of police arrested 41 people for violating Punjab government orders. The Cantonment Police Station arrested Inamullah Khan, Muhammad Nasir, Abdul Hai, Ikramullah Khan and Syed Nayyer for opening hotels and restaurants against government orders. Wah Cantonment Police Station arrested Shah Jahan, Muhammad Nasir and Muhammad Rizwan for organising a marriage ceremony despite a ban on public gatherings.

Saddar Wah Police Station also arrested Muhammad Shahid, Muhammad Sabir and Mehmood Ahmed for opening their shops.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Rawal Mazhar Iqbal and Superintendent of Police (SP) Potohar Syed Ali visited all areas and arrested violators on Sunday. They said that we are following the directions of Punjab government to close down all markets and shops. They said that violators will not be spared at any cost. The assistant commissioners with the help of police also visited all areas announcing shut downs of all shops immediately otherwise face strict legal action will be taken against the violators.

Deputy Commissioner Rawalpindi Captain (r) Anwar-ul-Haq told ‘The News’ grocery shops as well as food items shops will not be closed down. “Punjab government has directed us to close down other businesses,” he said. The DC, Rawalpindi has appealed public not to panic in the prevailing situation and buy food items according to their needs instead of stocking it.

The superstore owners said that public in the state of fear and panic is buying food items. “We could not control the difference of demand and supply in this situation. It will create shortage of all food items in coming days,” they warned.