While New Year’s Eve is a time for many to celebrate, the city’s police are busy warning people of strict action if anyone is found using motorcycles without a silencer or a broken silencer. The traffic police have chalked out a comprehensive plan for the city to control the heavy flow on the eve.
That has not deterred young men, who are making the rounds of mechanics to remove silencers from their motorcycles.
Their justification: It’s been a difficult, violent year for the city. New Year’s Eve is a time to celebrate, and instead of catching revellers, the police should take action against extortionists, target killers and criminals.
“It is strange that the police are after us instead of catching those who have destroyed Karachi’s peace,” said Amir Siddiqui, as he removed a silencer at a mechanic’s shop in the Nagan Chowrangi area.
Sohaib Zakir provided another insight. “These strategies are not to stop us, but are a way to get money from us,” he confidently remarked.
Mechanics are having a field day too. Rates have been doubled for removing silencers – Rs100 to Rs200 to ‘break’ a silencer and Rs50 to Rs100 to remove it. Other enterprising young men have undertaken the task themselves.
“These occasions are beneficial to us but a lot of young men just do this on their own,” said Razzak, who works as a mechanic in Gulberg.
“The big deal isn’t that we are increasing rates, but that young people still want to enjoy themselves given the conditions (of the city),” he said. The police have also said that more than two people would not be allowed to use a motorcycle.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 31st, 2011.
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Local government should provide a place and a method for the citizens to celebrate new year.
What a wierd way to enjoy!