TAXILA: The administration in Fatehjang on Sunday registered a case against a trader and his companions for allegedly hurling threats on officials of the local administration, including an assistant commissioner, during checking of the violation of Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs).

According to the first investigation report (FIR) lodged by Khan Badshah, chief officer municipal committee at Fatehjang police station, he along with Assistant Commissioner Azeem Shoukat Awan and other officials were visiting markets located along Rawalpindi road to check implementation of SOPs when a trader, Sheikh Faisal, was found violating them. Faisal allegedly took out a pistol and threatened the assistant commissioner and other officials of the municipal committee.

Police on the complaint of the official registered a case and launched a hunt for the trader and his companions.

Meanwhile, 54 business outlets were sealed, three people arrested while fines amounting to Rs54,000 were imposed during crackdown against violators of SOPs in various parts of district Attock during April.

Briefing journalists on Sunday, Deputy Commissioner Ali Annan Qammar said that the district administration was working day and night to implement SOPs and stop the increase in Covid-19 cases. Despite frequent warnings from the government, specifically district administration, majority of the shopkeepers and customers do not wear face masks or bother to keep some reasonable distance from each other.

He said 153 raids were conducted in markets and bazaars during which 54 business outlets were sealed besides registration of FIRs against three SOP violators.

He said 33 raids were conducted in hotels and restaurants and three of them were sealed, 16 raids were carried out at different bus stands while 15 surprise checks were also carried out on different mosques of the district to check implementation of Covid-19 SOPs.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2021