COVID-19: NCOC bans processions on Youm-e-Ali
The NCOC has decided that no processions or jaloos will be allowed for Youm-e-Ali on May 4 or Ramazan 20, it emerged Saturday.
Asad Umar chaired a meeting to decide this. It will apply across Pakistan. No jaloos or processions will be allowed for this specific day. This contradicts pronouncements from the Sindh government saying that the jaloos will take place as it usually does. Karachi’s DC South Irshad Sodhar had said that the procession would be held. This information came late Friday night. This story will be updated if there is a change in the Karachi government policy.
Majalis gatherings under strict SOPs will be allowed just as SOPs have been announced for Ramazan prayers in mosques.
Last year, on May 15, the same decisions were taken by the government to stem the spread of coronavirus. A complete lockdown was ordered in Sindh from 6am to 3pm on Youm-e-Ali that year. The federal government had banned processions as well. In Lahore, the district administration sealed procession routes with containers.
