LAHORE: Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Zulfiqar Hameed says there is a complete lockdown due to coronavirus in the city on Friday (today) and strict action will be taken against the violators of the standard operating procedure (SOP).

He said according to the SOP of the Punjab government, all markets, bazaars, shops, gatherings and movement of the public, all kinds of transport, including pillion riding, would also be banned. He said check posts had been established in different areas.

The CCPO appealed to the people to remain in their homes to remain safe. He ordered the police officers to take measures to ensure social distancing and implementation of the SOP during Friday prayers and directed the Dolphin Squad and Police Response Unit force to increase patrol around the mosques.

The CCPO visited Karbala Gamay Shah also to check security measures where Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Syed Hammad Abid and SSP Operations Faisal Shehzad briefed him on the security and route of the procession on Youm-i-Ali.

SSP Shehzad said all the routes leading to Karbala Gamay Shah, Mochi Gate, Lower Mall and Bhatti Gate had been sealed.

The CTO said all types of movement of the public were restricted from Katchery Chowk to Data Darbar and the public had been provided with alternative routes.

Later, the Pakistan Army and City Division Police jointly conducted a flag march, led by SP investigation Toheedur Rehman.

The flag March started from Minar-i-Pakistan and culminated at Karbala Gamay Shah.

Published in Dawn, May 15th, 2020