WhatsApp message triggers protest at Sukkur quarantine centre

More than 100 people housed at the main quarantine centre in Sukkur came out of their rooms and started a protest against the administration on Saturday.

It all started with a WhatsApp audio message, accusing the officials of insulting the religious leaders and expelling them from the facility along with other volunteers over food distribution.

The message also said that the people should come out and protest as their lunch had been prepared over 90 minutes ago, but the administration wasn’t allowing them to provide the same to them.

It said that only government officials will distribute food in future, which triggered the protest.

On the other hand, it is reported that the volunteers were barred from service because of lacking expertise and the necessary personal gear to deal in a quarantine-like situation.

These people are being kept at the centre established in the Labour Colony after their return from Iran as a mandatory precautionary measure for 15 days amid the coronavirus pandemic.

It is worth noting that the activists belonging to different Shia organisations, two to three days ago, had started working to facilitate the government officials looking after the quarantine centre that has over 800 people.

The Rangers and police cordoned off the area, while more contingents were being sent to control the situation by the time this report was filed.