Changing lockdown orders leave implementing officials confused

Permission for various businesses revised repeatedly amid efforts to curb virus infection

LAHORE: Officials of police and other government departments appear confused regarding enforcement of lockdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

The confusion has resulted from frequently changing government decisions about allowing and restricting various businesses and services. The government made several decisions after announcing the lockdown on March 14, including imposition of Section 144, but the orders were repeatedly revised afterwards.

An order was issued by the Punjab government to shut down crowded places, which included educational institutions, madrassas, wedding halls, gyms, snooker clubs, recreational places, salons, roadside kiosks, shopping malls and tea shops.

Auto workshops, petrol pumps, medical stores, restaurants, fast food stalls, meat shops, dairy shops, takeaway, home delivery, fruit and vegetable markets were exempted from the ban.



Seven days later, the lockdown was made stricter by enforcing Section 144 after the number of coronavirus cases increased.

The Punjab government revised the permission for home delivery and takeaway services and limited the timing of restaurants till 10pm.

After two days, the government issued a new order extending the holidays of educational institutions. Moreover, all businesses were allowed to remain open from 8am to 8pm, except for medical stores and takeaway services.

However, a ban was enforced on pillion riding. The cars were allowed to move with two people or two attendants with a patient. Wedding halls were also asked to shut down and only five people were allowed to pray in the mosques at a time.

After the provincial cabinet meeting on March 31, the timings of all businesses except medical stores were changed to 8am to 5pm.

However, on April 1, another meeting of the provincial cabinet was held, which decided that all shopping malls, markets, government and private offices would be closed till April 14, and a complete ban on commuting from one city to another and one province to another through public transport was imposed.

It was decided that all gatherings including political, social and religious activities will be banned in public and non-government places, while medical stores, government offices, law enforcement agencies, essential bank staff, call centres with essential staff, defence production, pharmaceutical companies along with all factories of equipment used in coronavirus prevention, agricultural machine workshops, the staff of irrigation department and food manufacturing factories were exempted from the ban.

Auto and agriculture machine workshops, grocery stores, fruit and vegetable vendors, fish, meat, bakery, dairy shops, tandoors and optical products shops would be  open from 8am to 5pm. The dairy shops were allowed to remain open from 9am to 8pm.

On the night of April 1, CCPO Zulfiqar Hamid visited various areas of northern Lahore and reviewed the police’s performance during the lockdown.

The SHO of Misri Shah was suspended for not implementing the lockdown effectively .The SHO of Mughalpura and SHO and DSP of Shalimar were summoned over poor performance.

Orders have been issued to effectively enforce the lockdown as per the government’s orders. An SHO said the officials themselves are confused about government policies, due to which no clear directives could be issued at the police station level.

Commenting on the situation, former CCPO Chaudhry Shafiq said, “The government should issue a clear policy and apart from medical stores, only multinational companies' restaurants should be allowed to remain open 24 hours a day with a regular driveway service for takeaways and people get the food items in their cars, while home delivery from these restaurants should also be allowed with a time limit.”



On the other hand, DIG Operations Rai Babar Saeed said Lahore police had stopped more than 123.,115 citizens at check posts,  and “1,534 FIRs have been registered so far over violation of Section 144”.

He highlighted that the owners of more than 104,331  motorcycles and other vehicles were asked about the reason for coming out. Warnings were issued to 114,296 citizens who were travelling without valid reason. “Surety bonds regarding coming out from homes have been taken from 3,671 citizens,” he said.

At least 60,472 motorcycles, 16,002 rickshaws, 2,666 taxis, 19,526 cars and 5,665 large vehicles were stopped and their occupants interrogated, he added.

Saeed further said that the citizens should comprehend the seriousness of the situation and should not leave their homes except in emergency.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 9^th, 2020.