TAXILA: Rawalpindi Regional Police Officer (RPO) Sohail Habib Tajik, Attock Deputy Commissioner Ali Annan Qammar and District Police Officer (DPO) Khalid Hamdani made separate visits to Attock’s points of entry and exit on Thursday to monitor the lockdown put in place in response to the novel coronavirus outbreak.

RPO Tajik visited entry and exit points such as the Jehri Kass check post bordering Hazara and Attock Khurd with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He reviewed the enforcement of the lockdown ordered by the provincial government. He instructed deputed staff to wear safety gear and ensure that that section 144, imposed to restrict unnecessary movement between districts to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, is implemented. He also told deputed staff to ensure an uninterrupted supply of food and medical items from one province to another.

Attock Deputy Commissioner Mr Qammar visited Hassanabdal, Hazro and Attock city to inspect the implementation of the lockdown and section 144. He also visited various roads and markets.

He said: “There shall be a complete ban on movement of people including intercity or interprovincial travel or gatherings of any kind for social, religious, or any other purpose at any place, public or private, including all offices, public or private.” He added that anyone who does not follow these orders would be punishable under section 188 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Mr Qammar also checked movement and the enforcement of the lockdown at the city’s entry points.

DPO Hamdani also visited various points of entry and exit to monitor the lockdown in parts of the district. He said the police are running special awareness campaigns about the coronavirus and steps are being taken in coordination with the health department and other government institutions. He directed police officers and unit chiefs to supervise action taken against violators of section 144, and daily progress report should be submitted to the district police office.

“Officers deputed in field on security duty should be on high alert also to ensure the strict implementation of instructions issued in the wake of the pandemic so that they may also keep themselves safe,” he said.

Published in Dawn, March 27th, 2020