KARACHI: A local court in Karachi today (Monday) has released some 300 people arrested for violating the ongoing lockdown restrictions and standard operating procedures (SOPs) to contain the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.
According to details, investigating officers produced the suspects before judicial magistrate South to seek their physical remand in police custody. The judge expressed his displeasure at the police authorities for producing the suspects without face masks.
The judge noted that police themselves were flouting the SOPs and wondered why they should also not be arrested for committing violations. The judge declared the FIRs lodged against the suspects as “null and void” and ordered the release of all of them on humanitarian grounds.
The development comes a day after the country underwent a partial lockdown to prevent a surge in coronavirus cases as Eidul Fitr approaches. Police had arrested nearly 300 men for breaching Covid-19 SOPs.
They were booked in several First Information Reports registered under Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
Earlier on Sunday, all commercial and business activities, government and private offices, as well as passenger transport services in Karachi, remained suspended as part of the National Command and Operation Centre’s ‘stay home-stay safe’ restrictions.
Only grocery, meat and vegetable shops, medical stores, bakeries, milk shops, and fuel stations were open. Fruit vendors were also allowed to work and so were food outlets, eateries and restaurants which remained open only for home deliveries.
