A Reuters file photo showing children ride on a motorcycle with their parent while heading to their school
RAWALPINDI: Desperate to control street crime during the upcoming Eid, the home department has imposed evening to morning curfew on pillion riding on motorbikes, the choice ride of muggers.
In order to curtail rising street crimes in Rawalpindi, the government has banned pillion riding in Rawalpindi from 7 pm to 7 am, said a notification issued by the Punjab Home Department. The ban will remain in force from May 21 to June 5.
The decision was taken in line with recommendations from the Deputy Commissioner (DC) to curtail street crimes that are on a rise in the recent days.
The notification has been sent to all related officials including Regional Police Officer (RPO) and City Police Officer (CPO) Rawalpindi.
A senior officer from City Traffic Police (CTP) Rawalpindi told The Express Tribune that such kinds of restrictions become hard to implement as people head to markets for Eid shopping however the government orders would be implemented.
Citizens of Rawalpindi criticized the decision and said that it was insignificant. The ban had been imposed during a time when many people go out for different purposes on their motorcycles, Muhammad Asghar said talking to The Express Tribune.
Another citizen, Waqas Ahmed, said the ban will hit people going for shopping or night prayers.
Shahid Mehmood was of the view that motorbikes were the cheapest form of commute. Banning pillion riding affects low-income people directly, forcing them to use taxis or buses.
A social worker who is also an active member of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Zaheer Ahmed Awan, tauntingly said that the measure was taken to allegedly collect ‘Eidi’ from the citizens. “It is not a ban but a joke with people’s self-respect”, he said.
He said that the police did not work and the public had to pay for their incompetence.
The Anti-Narcotic Force (ANF) foiled two attempts of drug smuggling.
The forces recovered some 300-kilogramme hashish and 51 kilogramme heroine when they checked a truck near Bagga Mor which was on its route to Peshawar. The drugs were hidden in secret compartments in the truck. The force arrested two suspects, Afzal and Aziz-ur-Rehman, who hailed from Khyber Agency.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 22nd, 2019.
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