EVERYONE has adopted social distancing to save themselves and others from contagion owing to the Covid-19 pandemic. Many people in Sindh who are concerned about the havoc this virus can cause have taken precautions to halt its spread. However, there are black sheep everywhere.

The people who had gone to Iran for pilgrimage returned to Pakistan via the Taftan border. For health safety reasons, it was decided that they be kept in isolation in Sukkur labour colony. However, they violated the quarantine and started a series of protests against the administration.

Their demands included early release from quarantine. Besides they also started to pick holes in the health safety protocols adopted by the district administration. This behaviour by irresponsible people has endangered the rest of the nation. Isolation is the main prerequisite for stopping the spread of coronavirus. Unfortunately those restricted to quarantine have refused to follow safety procedures and are mixing freely with one another, and people foolish enough to visit them.

As a resident of this city, I find the situation worrisome as the people of Sukkur have been exposed to risk.

I request the Sukkur authorities to ensure strict quarantine enforcement as well as stringent lockdown in the division.

Engr Irfan Ali Shaikh Sukkur

Published in Dawn, March 27th, 2020