LAHORE: Thousands of people gathered in Lahore for a religious procession on Tuesday amid fears of spread of the coronavirus. The government had issued a notice banning mass gatherings commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Ali (AS), but local negotiations with religious leaders failed. “They try to stop Shia mourning ceremonies and processions using different excuses. Smaller processions were also held in major cities across the country, including Karachi. An official from the police department said that they attempted to negotiate with clerics and religious leaders over the procession, who refused to back down.

Source: Pakistan Today May 04, 2021 11:17 UTC