President Alvi urges law enforcers to avoid arresting people for minor offences

Alvi also requests police, rangers and armed forces personnel to implement social distancing

President Dr Arif Alvi on Tuesday urged law enforcers to avoid arresting people for minor violations of restrictions amid the lockdown imposed by provincial governments to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The president posted on microblogging website Twitter and also requested police, rangers and armed forces to implement social distancing on the streets.

 

As we observe social distancing, I request more carefulness of police, rangers & armed forces personnel in implementing the same in their group movement on the street. The same goes for all volunteers as they join any social, political, or religious group to serve in any campaign

— Dr. Arif Alvi (@ArifAlvi) March 24, 2020

He also asked volunteers who are taking part in social, political and religious groups to serve in any campaign to keep a distance.

Alvi lauded the judiciary for releasing minor offence prisoners, following the decision of Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Athar Minallah to release over 400 prisoners amid the Covid-19 outbreak.

Cracking down: Police arrest hundreds across Sindh

He also appreciated the role of the doctors in the current crisis and urged the nation to be brave and take precautions.

 

Please don't arrest people for minor violations of restrictions or congregate them on the road. In fact I appreciate that the judiciary has taken an initiative to release minor offence prisoners. Our heroes in this battle are the doctors too, be brave, but take all precautions.

— Dr. Arif Alvi (@ArifAlvi) March 24, 2020

A day earlier, law enforcement officials detained hundreds of citizens for violating the ban on leaving their homes.

In Karachi, the police claimed to have arrested at least 119 people by the evening, registering 29 cases for the violation of Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure in the wake of the government’s lockdown orders.

Karachi police chief Ghulam Nabi Memon stated that citizens should not unnecessarily leave their houses, advising them to be safe and to safeguard others. Adding that general stores and hospitals would remain open, he appealed to Karachiites to cooperate with the police.

At the same time, Civil Lines SHO Salahuddin Qazi was suspended for mistreating violators of the ban.