Police Helpless As Youm-e-Ali Processions Violate Coronavirus Restrictions

Police Helpless As Youm-e-Ali Processions Violate Coronavirus Restrictions
Government authorities failed to ensure social distancing measures at the mourning processions held to mark Youm-e-Ali across the country. Members of Shia community, including a number of teenagers and women participated in the processions despite the government’s ban on big religious gatherings.

In a video circulating on social media, it can be seen how the police officials were trying to stop women from participating in the procession at Mochi Gate, but they failed to do so. It can be seen that no guidelines of social distancing were followed by the organisers of the mourning procession.

https://twitter.com/SAMRIReports/status/1261095149351862279?s=20

The teenagers and women also participated in large numbers flaunting the directives of Punjab government to restrict public religious gatherings of all kinds.

However, The Express Tribune reported that Lahore police has sealed the route of the Yaum-e-Ali procession. At least eight main points, including Katchery, Bhatti Gate, Data Darbar and Shah Alami were cordoned off, using containers and barbed wires.

Moreover in Sindh, despite the provincial home department issuing a notification restricting religious gatherings in the province, a large number of people have gathered at the Mazar-e-Quaid on the occasion of Youm-e-Ali.

On Thursday, following the Sindh government’s notification to restrict religious processions and gatherings, Shia religious groups in the province had announced that they will commemorate Youm-e-Ali on the 21st of Ramzan ‘come what may’.

Naya Daur Media (NDM) is a bi-lingual progressive digital media platform aiming to inform and educate Pakistanis at home and abroad. Subscribe to our YouTube channel here Follow us on Facebook   Twitter and Instagram Visit our Urdu website