Regretfully, celebratory firing is rampant in many parts of the country
BAJAUR AGNCY: Eidul Fitr is a religious festival which is celebrated by Muslims with great pomp and show. On this occasion of happiness, people purchase different things and share happiness with one another by taking part in different cultural and religious activities. These are salubrious activities which promote and build human values and cultural orientations. In Pakistan, however, people resort to a plethora of illegal, aberrant and wasteful activities as a way of misplaced amusement and sheer masochism. I am referring to jubilation firing, and race competition of vehicles, especially pillion riding, on roads which causes inconvenience to the public at large.
Regretfully, celebratory firing is rampant in many parts of the country. This is an unhealthy form of entertainment. A million dollar question arises here: is there no way to implement laws against this outdated culture of testing lethal weapons randomly? Blind and stray bullets have known to cause casualties.
Secondly, young boys tend to come out on the roads in their vehicles and indulge in dangerous racing and other mindless stunts. For them, this is a way of celebrating Eid and a form of entertainment, but on the other hand, it is most deadly and hazardous. Such activities can cause deaths and serious injuries.
Toy guns are also sold and purchased and the sales tend to rise on special occasions such as Eid. There are so many negative effects of toy guns on young minds. Toy guns likely increase aggressive behaviour and violent tendencies among children at a very early age.
Why are these heinous and outdated activities still practised in our country? Is there no law against them? Why are vehicles recklessly driven during occasions like Eid. The government must pay attention to this matter and bring about a change to save lives that are lost due to these silly activities. There should be awareness campaigns that make people understand the negative aspects of such celebratory tools.
Atta-ur-Rahman
Published in The Express Tribune, July 2nd, 2016.
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