KARACHI: Sindh Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mushtaq Ahmed Mahar said on Thursday that clear instructions had been issued to police to ensure that four or more persons should not travel in vehicles or gather on roads or other places unnecessarily and without any convincing reason, otherwise legal proceedings would be initiated against them from Friday.

The provincial police chief issued these instructions as the number of coronavirus cases has increased significantly in Sindh.

The IGP urged people to avoid travel without any plausible reason. He observed that those steps were imperative to prevent spread of the virus and protect the people.

He suggested that the first step to fight against the virus was to restrict movement of people. It was incumbent upon people to minimise their social contact.

The IG expressed his gratitude to the general public, traders and other sections of society who have voluntarily followed the guidelines issued by the Sindh government against the virus and extended their cooperation to the institutions concerned that were active to this effect.

Mr Mahar suggested that it was people’s responsibility and duty to demonstrate responsible behaviour as it was the only way to meet the challenges of coronavirus.

“We have to not only play our role individually and collectively with responsibility to fight against this virus, but also implement the government’s steps in this regard,” observed the police chief.

Published in Dawn, March 20th, 2020