Explosive situation: Police least interested in firecracker cases

Follow-up shows the force has not taken the investigation seriously

LAHORE: Slow progress in cases registered against firecracker sellers reflects the apathy of the Lahore police, observers said.

This year, on April 25, police launched an operation against them after a four-year-old child, Kashif Riaz, died when a firecracker exploded at his house in Ittefaq Town, Hanjarwal. The child, along with his two siblings, was playing when a firecracker exploded in the room and the bed caught fire. Later, the fire engulfed the entire room and the child was burnt to death as he remained trapped inside.

Two FIRs were registered on April 29 at Sanda police station under section 188 of the Pakistan Penal Code.



According to investigation officer ASI Saeed, the suspects Farid Khan and Waqar, had been sent to jail on a judicial remand for selling firecrackers at a roadside stall. When asked where the suspects got these fireworks from or when they were going to be produced before court, the officer expressed his ignorance. “I did not ask the suspects or maybe they purchased the firecrackers from a shop at Mochi Gate.”

Similarly, two suspects named Muhammad Akram and his son Muhammad Afzal were arrested from Akbari Gate during a joint raid conducted by Ravi Road, Rang Mahal, Lohari Gate and Akbari Gate police. A large quantity of explosives was seized under sections 285 and 286 of the Pakistan Penal Code.



An officer of the Lahore police operations wing told The Express Tribune that the suspects were producing firecrackers in bulk at a local warehouse and were also supplying them to other cities.

In reply to a question about progress in these incidents, Investigations Officer ASI Ashiq Hussain said he was unaware of any such case being registered as he had just returned from court.  Likewise, Akbari Gate Investigations In Charge SI Hammad Akhtar said he had just returned after conducting a raid and was unaware of any details in this case.

Ban on firecrackers



The sale of fireworks was banned under the Explosives Act after an executive order of the Punjab and district governments. The National Action Plan also did not allow the sale of fireworks.

Fireworks sale ahead of Shab-e-Barat

The production and sale of firecrackers increases manifold during April and May due to Shab-e-Barat, according to Rescue 1122 data which is available with The Express Tribune.

At least 206 incidents of fire were reported due to fireworks across the province from January 2016 to April 26, 2017. Out of 206 incidents, 54, that is 26 % or every fourth incident, was reported in Lahore. Valuables worth millions of rupees were also burnt to ashes in these occurences.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 3^rd, 2017.