Amid the illegal sale of fireworks material, the Rawalpindi district administration has imposed an immediate ban on fireworks, firecrackers, and aerial firing under Section 144 on the occasion of Shab-e-Barat, which is expected to be observed on February 25.
The Station House Officers (SHOs) at all police stations across the district have been ordered to crack down on the sellers of fireworks and crackers forthwith.
The ban on the use of firecrackers hasn’t deterred the surge in sales of firecrackers, locally manufactured firecrackers, and Chinese matchstick firecrackers in the markets.
Children are seen popping Chinese match crackers all day long in the city's streets and neighborhoods, resulting in small altercations among people.
Despite efforts, the police seem powerless to prohibit the selling of firecrackers. Some people have bought a lot of Chinese match crackers to bother the citizens on Shab-e-Barat, which is on upcoming Sunday, February 25.
Read Fireworks, aerial firing terrorise residents
Chinese match crackers are sold in a Rs30 worth box, which contains 20 to 25 small match crackers. Many students and children are busy purchasing these crackers with their own pocket money, even if their parents are stopping them.
Despite the ban, vendors continue to sell crackers and phuljari (sparklers) in the street markets throughout the city. Fireworks are being sold secretly and only to customers of acquaintance.
Nirankari Bazaar, situated between the City and Ganj Mandi police stations, is the wholesale hub for Chinese match firecrackers and indigenous firecrackers. Using referrals and connections, the shopkeepers of neighbouring tehsils of Murree, Kotli Sattian, Kahuta, Gujar Khan, and Taxila are even purchasing fireworks from Nirankari Bazaar. Local shopkeepers are no exception.
There are reports that a good quantity of fireworks have been stored in nearby warehouses by the wholesalers, who will supply these goods to shops secretly.
Youngsters have also reportedly purchased a large quantity of bullets and arranged weapons for intense aerial firing on Shab-e-Barat.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 21st 2024.
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