Driver arrested, 22 passengers booked for Section 144 violations

MULTAN: Police on Tuesday claimed to have apprehended a truck driver for transporting 22 people, who were also booked for violating section 144, in Jalalpur Pirwala district.

Police confirmed that a truck driver identified as Khadim Hussain was carrying 22 people from Muzaffargarh to Hyderabad, was stopped at motorway M-5 interchange and booked for violating section 144, police said. The passengers were identified as Rafique, Akbar, Mureed, Zafar, Waqar, Allah Yar, Allah Wasaya and others apart from the driver.

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Meanwhile, another truck driver was arrested on Tuesday for trying to take sixty people from Karachi to Bajaur. Gadap police stopped the truck during a security check. The passengers, mostly comprising labourers, said that they paid Rs 200, 00 to the driver to take them to their homes. A lockdown has been imposed across Pakistan to limit the spread of coronavirus.

It may be noted that Prime Minister Imran Khan has allowed reopening of goods transport amid the lockdown to allow the provision of food items and essential items but the movement of passengers remains suspended. Many truck drivers are using these directives to transport passengers across the country particularly those affected by the lockdown.

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