Case filed against JI for ‘violating Covid SOPs’

Sections of Epidemic Act, Sound System Act added in FIR

RAWALPINDI:

A case has been registered against Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) at the City Police Station for holding a rally at Liaquat Bagh "in violation of coronavirus Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)".

The first information report (FIR) was registered for "violation of sections of the Epidemic Act and Sound System Act".

The report stated that JI’s Deputy District Amir Raza Ahmad Shah had applied for permission to hold a rally in Liaquat Bagh.

However, it was rejected due to the pandemic situation. Despite it, the party held a public rally in Liaquat Bagh on March 28.

On the other hand, Deputy District Amir Raza Ahmad Shah condemned the registration of cases against the party.

He contended that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNA Sheikh Rashid Shafique had held a public meeting in Ratta Amral on March 12. He questioned why it went unnoticed.

Shah said the JI was informed a few hours before the meeting that the permission had not been granted even though the application was submitted on March 12. The JI leader accused that the administration and police kept them in the dark which worsened matters.

Shah said that the party distributed facemasks among all participants and chairs were kept keeping in view social distancing protocols.

He said the JI would challenge the FIR in the high court.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 30^th, 2021.