RAWALPINDI: More than 70 people were booked by police on charges of violating government ban on religious processions while observing Yaum-i-Ali on Tuesday.

Police said as many as eight cases were registered – two with Banni police, two each with Ratta Amral, and one each with New Town, Race Course, Ganj Mandi and Kahuta police.

SHO Ganjmandi lodged an FIR saying that he was on night duty when a large number of people appeared from Mr Zaidi’s house violating SOPs for Covid-19.

He nominated 19 persons in the FIR while 15 others were unknown who were criticising government policies and shouting slogans against the administration.

SI Mohammad Younis of Ratta Amral registered a similar FIR against four persons who were violating government ban on religious processions and shouting slogans against government policies.

SI Mohammad Aslam of Ratta Amral also registered a similar FIR against five people on similar charges.

SI Ali Asghar and SI Abdul Ghafoorof Banni police registered separate FIRs against 10 people on charges of violating government ban on processions.

SI Khalique Ahmed, posted at New Town and Mouhammad Asif SHO Race Course also registered separate FIRs against 22 people on charges of bringing out religious processions and violating SOPs for Covid-19.

The participants also shouted slogans against government policies and district administration.

SI Waqar Hussain registered an FIR with Kahuta police on similar charges and violating SOPs of Covid-19.

Published in Dawn, May 6th, 2021