The Sindh government Friday announced a ban on pillion riding across the province to ensure security during Muharram processions

Sindh Inspector-General Ghulam Nabi Memon issued a notification banning pillion riding. This ban falls under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code. It will continue from August 5 to 10 (6 to 12 Muharram). It will come into force midnight from Friday, August 5.

Women, children, elderly, journalists, personnel of law enforcement agencies including those performing compulsory services are excluded. Those who do not qualify as these exceptions will be registered as violators and legal action will be taken against them. The specificities of this legal action entail being stopped if caught pillion riding and being written off in violation of Section 144, the cases of which will be presented in a court.

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah in a meeting in Islamabd said that law and order would be ensured at all cost during Muharram.

“Foolproof security will be made for Majalis and processions routes.” he said adding that the government was imposing a ban on pillion riding to avoid any untoward incident.

The federal government has deployed civil and armed forces in all the provinces of the country.

The administration authorities of Karachi have also issued a traffic plan for the metropolis. The authorities said that the processions would begin as usual at Imamia Imambargah and conclude at Hussaini Imambargah.

Image taken from official website of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC).

The procession roads will not be available for use by vehicles, and traffic officials will be deployed throughout the city to ensure security by regulating the traffic. There will be barricades around the procession roads.

The traffic officials will divert the vehicles from the procession sites across the country, and it is also expected that mobile service will be suspended in some areas from 7th Muharram to 10th Muharram.

However, despite all these measures, the government has not issued any official notification as to how they will ensure safety during the processions in light of the heavy thunderstorms that are predicted to start on 10th Muharram.