Imposing a ban on pillion riding in the city will not in any way restore peace in Karachi.
KARACHI: This is with reference to Muhammad Rizwan Aftab’s letter “Ban on pillion riding” (April 3). I agree with most of the views expressed by the writer and I have a few comments to add.
It is a sad state of affairs that Karachi faces such a poor law and order situation. The law-enforcement agencies do not perform their duties in the way they should, adding to the sufferings of the people of Karachi. Because of their failure, the previous government was often forced into imposing such bans on pillion riding in the city. Mostly, people of Karachi belong to the middle class and cannot afford to own private cars, or travel by taxis or auto-rickshaws. The majority depends on motorbikes to travel and the ban has had an affect on the city’s economy in an adverse manner as many workers commute through motorbikes. This ban has also affected students, families and the elderly.
Imposing a ban on pillion riding in the city will not in any way restore peace in Karachi. All this ban has done is to create a massive headache for the citizens of the metropolis.
Maqsood Bari
Published in The Express Tribune, April 5th, 2013.
