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LAHORE: Police have registered dozens of cases against people not wearing a face mask as authorities tighten restrictions and expedite action against the violation of safety precautions.
The first case was registered on Sunday against a person at Islampura Police Station for not wearing a mask in public. A first information report (FIR) was registered against Muhammad Javed for walking at Alamgir Road without wearing a mask.
The FIR was registered under the provisions of section 6 and 7 of the Punjab Epidemic Control Ordinance 2020. The capital city police also registered 44 cases against people for not wearing masks in various parts of the city. Police also registered 83 cases against the owners of different shops over violations of SOPs and not following the timings.
A city police spokesperson said most of the cases were registered for not wearing masks in public places in various areas of the city including 33 cases in city division, three each in Iqbal Town, Civil Lines and Model Town and two in Cantonment.
Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Lahore Ghulam Mahmood Dogar said that government guidelines have to be implemented for the protection of the citizens.
He said joint teams of police, district administration and health department were constituted to monitor the implementation and enforcement of SOPs. He said strict and indiscriminate action was being taken against the law breakers including those not wearing masks and violating the timings schedule.
He said special pickets would be set up at different points of the city to check the implementation process of directions of wearing masks by citizens. He appealed to citizens to cooperate with police and to save their lives in this critical situation.
Lahore Commissioner Muhammad Usman has warned that those not wearing masks will be arrested and locked up in police station. He said a case will be registered against the offender for not wearing a mask who can face up to six months in jail.
The Punjab government is considering a complete lockdown in the province, while smart lockdowns have already been implemented in 27 more areas of Lahore.