HYDERABAD: The city witnessed curfew-like conditions for three hours during the ongoing lockdown which was further tightened across the province to avert people gathering in mosques to offer Friday prayers.

Personnel of police and Rangers patrolled the streets during 12pm to 3pm, sealed all main roads with barbed wire and jointly manned different roundabouts.

The few who did come out of their homes for any reason had to face the ire of policemen. Only those with valid excuse and with women were allowed to go.

Hardly any shop, cabin or vendor was seen open on roads during the three hours. The security was eased after 3pm when the time for Friday prayers had been over in all mosques.

Curfew-like situation seen in most cities, towns

There were no reports of violation on the ban on Friday congregations in mosques from any part of the city.

Hyderabad SSP Adeel Chandio, Rangers authorities and administration officials visited different areas including the densely-populated Phuleli and Paretabad areas where some people were found roaming the streets and sitting at roundabouts in their localities where police mobiles could not enter.

In other parts of the city residents mostly preferred to stay indoors. After 4pm peoples’ movement increased slightly when grocers’ shops were opened.

MITHI: Faithful offered Friday prayers at their home during lockdown which was further tightened for over three hours to avert gathering of people in mosques. Daily wagers continued to complain that their families were facing starvation due to the prolonged lockdown. They demanded distribution of ration and other essential items.

DADU: Police arrested 20 people in Dadu and 22 in Jamshoro for violating Section 144 during the lockdown but released them after 3 pm.

Personnel of police and Rangers were deployed outside mosques as the faithful offered Friday prayers at home in Dadu, Khudabad, Phulji Station, Johi, Wahi Pandhi, Kakar, Khairpur Nathan Shah, Mehar, Thrari Mohabbat, Bhan Syedabad, Sehwan, Sann, Manjhand, Jamshoro, Kotri and Nooriabad towns.

MIRPURKHAS: Police detained several prayer leaders for holding Friday prayer congregations in some mosques in violation of a ban on gatherings during the ongoing lockdown.

Authorities forced closure of shops at 11am, an hour earlier than the announced 12pm, inconveniencing shoppers and shopkeepers. All shops, however, reopened at 3.30pm and remained open till 6pm.

SHIKARPUR: People offered Friday prayers at home in Shikarpur, Garhi Yaseen, Madeji, Khanpur, Lakhi, Chak, Sultankot, Mian Sahib and other towns as per government orders.

Personnel of law enforcement agencies ensured complete lockdown from 12pm to 3pm and all trade and business centres remained closed during that time. They reopened after 3pm.

Daily wagers continued to suffer as the promised government help had not reached them even after twelfth day of the lockdown.

Provincial minister Imtiaz Ahmed Sheikh said that a mechanism was being evolved to provide relief package to temporarily jobless daily wagers.

Sources said that a list of 1,300 deserving people was made in Madeji town and of them 400 were quite well-off. Party men were being given priority over the deserving families and daily wagers, said the sources.

Published in Dawn, April 4th, 2020