SIALKOT: Assistant Commissioner Javeria Maqbool raided a Walima function being held on the rooftop of a mosque in Cantt’s Pulli Topkhaana locality late last night and arrested the groom and others.

Azeem Nawaz was holding his Walima function at the rooftop of a local mosque, in violation of the ban imposed by the Punjab government.

On a tip-off, AC Javeria, along with the police, conducted a raid and halted this function. Police arrested the Azeem Nawaz and some wedding guests.

Sialkot Cantt police registered a case against Nawaz, his family members , some wedding guests and mosque management.

AC Javeria also sealed three hotels in Sialkot city for serving meals to the people in violation of the official ban. Police arrested the owners of these hotels and registered separate cases against them. The AC sealed a general store in Ram Talaai locality of Sialkot and imposed Rs50,000 on it for selling fake sanitisers to the public.

Meanwhile, all roads in the district gave a deserted look due thin traffic on Sunday.

Almost all the shopping plazas, markets and bazaars remained shut in Sialkot, Daska, Sambrial and Pasrur, following the official order of their closure due to coronavirus outbreak.

Mostly the people stayed indoors. However, the milk, grocery, fruit, vegetables and meat shops, medical stores, tandoors and filling stations were open.

Published in Dawn, March 23rd, 2020