Salute and homage: Section 144 breached as police visit hospitals

Medical staff, police seen closely interacting with each other

LAHORE: Lahore police seems killing the spirit of Section 144, clamped with an objective to control the outspread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that forbid gathering of citizens. For the purpose, prayers at religious places have also been stopped.

However, on Friday, on one side where Lahore police officials, were stopping people from going to the mosques to offer Friday prayer and avoid unnecessary travel on roads, on the other hand, different squads escorted by senior police officers were visiting different hospitals to offer “salutations” to the doctors and paramedics to appreciate their efforts.

In these gatherings, the protocol of maintaining a safe distance (at least three feet) was also ignored. The medical staff and police were seen jumbled up together, at some points, they were touching each other’s shoulders. The official statement released by the Lahore police read: “On the occasion, a large number of people and medical staff were present.

A squad led by SP Dolphin Squad Ayesha Butt, visited and SP Civil Lines Dost Muhammad to Ganga Ram Hospital, another squad led by SP City Raza Safdar Kazmi to Lahore Mayo Hospital. SP Model Town Asad Muzzafar led the squad to the Lahore Services Hospital and ASP Raiwind Circle Raza Tanveer to Shareef Medical Complex.



Meanwhile, the Lahore police claimed to have checked as many as 28,631 citizens at different pickets and asked more than 19,971 persons to contain their unnecessary movement and go back to their homes during the last four days since Section 144 was imposed as a part of a partial lockdown in the city.

DIG Operations Rai Babar Saeed said as many as 354 FIRs were registered against persons in violations of Section 144. The accused persons nominated in FIRs for violation of Section 144 were release afterward taking warranty bonds as not to move again in the city unnecessarily. As many as 18,476 motorcycles, cars, rickshaws and bigger vehicles were contained from movement in the city.

On the other hand, from March 16 to date at least 3,464 cases have been registered throughout Punjab over violation of Section 144. During the period, 6427 violators have been arrested among them 1798 have been detained whereas 173 have been released on warning. Likewise, during actions against hoardings, police teams registered 99 cases and 96 accused have been arrested.

On Friday, Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Zulfiqar Hameed distributed medical kits among the members of special teams from six police divisions.

Each police division had a contingent of 10 cops to shift the suspected corona patients to the hospital.

On the occasion, CCPO instructed members of the special teams to adopt all safeguards during the “Corona operation”. “Police teams will collaborate with the health department on suspected patient’s presence at some point,” he said.

Meanwhile, to prevent the spread of coronavirus, pesticide sprays have been done at all police installations.

On Friday, a team of experts sprayed anti-disinfectants in all parts of the CCPO office. Police stations are also being disinfected phase-wise.

As a preventive measure pesticides sprayed at the police headquarters. Under the supervision of SP Headquarters Jameel Zafar meeting hall, hostel of Police Lines Qila Gujar Singh were disinfected.

The CCPO said that police stations were more vulnerable in the percent situation of COVID-19 outbreak because of public dealing. “Police force also provided with masks and sanitizers. Protection of police cops will be ensured “pledged the CCPO.



Friday prayer

A spokesperson for the Lahore police Operations Wing has said they ensured a ban on offering of Friday prayers in mosques in wake of preventive measures to control the outspread of coronavirus.

Police had made security arrangements on the occasion. Police officers visited mosques, religious places and other important points of the city.

Dolphin Squad and Police Response Unit (PRU) remained on patrol. Deputy Inspector General Operations (DIG) Rai Babar Saeed asked citizens to follow the government’s instructions while performing their religious obligations. He requested them to fulfill preventive measures to ensure the safety of their own, family and society’s safety. He instructed them not to come out of their homes unnecessary strictly follow the imposition of Section 144.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 28^th, 2020.