Karachi police tightens noose around citizens defying pillion riding ban

• The officials imposed fines of more than Rs500 on some riders while some were allowed to go after initial warning.
• A large number of motorcyclists were seen at various checkpoints in the city arguing with the police personnel.
• The government has previously exempted journalists, policemen, women, children and elderly citizens from the ban.

(Karachi) Karachi police have started taking strict action against pillion riders after a ban was imposed by the provincial government in wake of the lockdown and coronavirus situation but the citizens seem to be in no mood to follow the instructions.

As per details, the police and law enforcement personnel flagged down several pillion riders, including women and elderly at different thoroughfares of the city for not following the government's rules. The officials imposed fines of more than Rs500 on some riders while some were allowed to go after initial warning.

The police also detained a few riders after an argument.

A large number of motorcyclists were seen at various checkpoints in the city arguing with the police personnel. The police have been given powers to take action against those violating restrictions to curb spread of the virus.

On Saturday, the Sindh home department imposed a blanket ban on pillion riding in the metropolis. The government has withdrawn all exemptions previously given, according to a notification. Journalists, policemen, women, children and elderly citizens were previously exempted from the ban.

Karachi Police Chief Ghulam Nabi Memon directed the police to ensure strict imposition of the ban.

So far, 159 people have died of the deadly disease across the country.

According to details, more than 7,900 confirmed cases have been reported in the country so far. Of them, 2,355 cases have been reported in Sindh, 3,649 in Punjab, 1,077 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 376 in Balochistan, 171 in Islamabad, 250 in Gilgit-Baltistan and 48 in Azad Kashmir.

Meanwhile, 36 people have recovered from the coronavirus during the last 24 hours.The total number of recovered patients has reached 1,868.