Sindh police arrested over 200 participants of Youm-e-Ali processions on Friday for violating standard operating procedures (SOPs) issued by Sindh government amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Sindh government is reported to have marginally relaxed its restrictions on the occasion, though on the condition that all participants would properly follow all precautionary instructions.
The relaxation was said to be on the request of Shia leaders, who gave assurances that all SOPs would be followed and the number of participants would be limited.
However, processions with thousands of participants were carried out in the provincial capital and other districts of the province including Shikarpur, Larkana and Jacobabad, meeting strong resistance from the police.
In Larkana, the participants of a procession defied the police and broke into a police station as the police tried convincing them to maintain social distancing and follow SOPs.
In Karachi, police and Rangers personnel were deployed along the route of the procession from Nishtar Park to Kharadar, while roads were blocked with containers and barriers.
Clothed in black, the mourners shouted slogans and recited tazia as the procession moved to its destination. Most among them were seen wearing masks, though little attention was paid to maintaining social distance.
The police arrested some participants and registered FIRs against them at the Soldier Bazaar, Preedy and Frere police stations.
Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) spokesperson has severely criticized the government and stated that over 200 people have been arrested in Karachi, Shikarpur, Jacobabad, Larkana and other districts of Sindh.
“By arresting them, the government has betrayed us,” claimed MWM.
Also protesting the arrests, Shia leader Allama Baqar Abbas Zaidi demanded the withdrawal of all cases registered against the procession’s participants and their release.
However, the police sources maintained that procession participants had been arrested for violating Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
