Police ordered to ban all religious gatherings

Order also warns action against hoarding, selling of medical supplies, face masks, sanitisers on exorbitant prices

LAHORE: In an unprecedented step in the history of Pakistan, Lahore police has banned all religious gatherings as a preventive measure to cope with the spread of the coronavirus. The police referred to a few sections mentioned according to them in Police Order (2002) that empowered them for the purpose.

The section included Articles 118, 119 and 123 of the Police Order 2002.

On Monday, Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Lahore Zulfiqar Hameed has issued instructions to all divisional SPs under the emergency powers assigned in the Police Order 2002.

The order stated that all public, religious gatherings would be banned in Lahore to stop the spread of novel coronavirus pandemic. The order read: “Police will take action on the opening of parks, hotels, restaurants, gyms, snooker clubs and educational institutions.”

The order also warned action against hoarding, selling of important medical supplies, face masks, sanitisers on exorbitant prices. The police officers on seeing a suspected coronavirus patient shall immediately give directions to him to undergo any testing or treatment.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 24^th, 2020.