Karachi's beaches are open, but no swimming allowed, says police

Police tightens security deployed at different beaches in metropolis

KARACHI: A large contingent of law enforcers has been deployed at different beaches in Karachi to stop people from bathing and swimming in the sea following the ban imposed by the provincial government.

Apart from the Clifton beach, around 70 lifeguards, 10 police mobiles, 11 motorcycle squads and around 25 police jawans are deployed at different beaches falling within the limits of the Mauripur police station. These include Hawkes Bay, Sandspit, Turtle, Soneri, French, Golden and Manora beaches, Mubarak Village and Bhit Shah Island.

"No beach in Karachi has been closed for picnickers. Only a ban is imposed on swimming and bathing," confirmed Mauripur SHO Liaquat Hayat while talking to The Express Tribune. "We have also arrested at least 32 people during the three days of Eidul Azha over violation of Section 144."

The officer said that it is very difficult for the police to control the crowd of hundreds of picnickers at the around 42 kilometer-long coastal belt with a strength of only 70 cops in two shifts. "To cover this long coastal belt, there should be at least three police stations with enough strength," he explained.



According to District South Deputy Commissioner Sheikh Salahuddin, Section 144 has been imposed for 30 days. "This is a cognisable offence and whosoever violates it, is arrested and presented before the magistrate," he said, adding that bathing in the sea is prohibited.

He said sometimes it gets difficult to control a big crowd so the police stop visitors from going to the beaches.



Meanwhile, District West Deputy Commissioner Shadia Jafer told The Express Tribune that the West SSP and traffic police is dealing with the situation at the beaches in District West.

"There are an adequate number of lifeguards present at the beaches. They are making sure no untoward incident occurs," she said, adding that the law enforcers may decide to close Hawkes Bay for the public for a while to tackle the situation.

Two young friends recently drowned while swimming at Karachi's Sandspit beach. Faraz, 19, and Osama, 22, were on a picnic trip at the beach along with their friends on the second day of Eid.

Similarly, another youngster, 20-year-old Anwarul Haq, drowned while bathing in the sea at Rehri Goth, while his friend, Hazar Shah survived. Sukkan police officials said the victims were residents of Sherpao Colony in Quaidabad.