The tone was set earlier on Thursday during a day of bedlam at Karachi’s City Courts.
Judges expressed resentment as hundreds of ordinary citizens were produced handcuffed in the courts by police on Thursday morning – arrested for pillion riding, which had been banned by the government.
Outside, hundreds of desperate relatives of the ‘criminals’ raised hue and cry at their loved ones being detained overnight in police custody.
Judges asked the police if the ban on pillion riding had produced any positive results such as a reduction in terrorist acts, street crime or other crimes. The police could only reply with silence. Judges expressed sadness that the government was imposing unnecessary restrictions and the sufferer was the innocent common man only.
If the judges were upset at the ban on pillion riding, then the government really pushed its luck on Thursday evening with an even more drastic move.
As part of security measures for Muharram, the interior ministry announced a sweeping ban on motorcycles from 6am to 7pm today (Friday) in Karachi and Quetta.
However, in a late night development, a seemingly irate Sindh High Court overturned the move.
Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court (SHC) Mushir Alam took notice of the ban imposed by the interior ministry on a written application moved by Sindh High Court Bar Association President Anwar Mansoor Khan.
Chief Justice Alam ordered issuing a notice to the Sindh Advocate General Abdul Fattah Malik to apprise the court about the reason behind the ban on Friday.
However, it remains unclear whether motorcyclists will be allowed onto the streets on Friday.
Earlier, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said, “A decision to ban motorbikes has been taken after intelligence reports warned that terrorists may carry out attacks in sensitive cities.”
Addressing the media, he added that terrorists use motorcycles to conduct target killings and other terror related activities.
Malik also announced that shops would only be allowed to remain open from 10am to 5pm in Karachi and Quetta.
Officials associated with the taxation department in Karachi and Quetta told the media that the ban meant that around 1.8 million registered motorbikes would be off the roads in Karachi and over a 100,000 in Quetta.
The government’s decision came following an important meeting held at the interior ministry on Thursday to discuss security risks associated with various rallies expected to be organised by religious groups during Muharram.
According to official sources, the army could be deployed on the 9th and 10th of Muharram.
Section 144 has been imposed in all sensitive cities and law enforcement agencies have been put on high alert to avoid any untoward situation, officials said. The red-zone area in Karachi would also be sealed off, they added.
Cellular phone services
Cellular phone services are also likely to be suspended once again, a senior official associated with the National Terrorism Counter Authority (NACTA) told The Express Tribune while quoting Interior Minister Malik.
The services are likely to be partially suspended during the first 10 days of Muharram in 20 cities, including Quetta, Karachi, Lahore, Murree, Multan, Rahim Yar Khan, Peshawar, Dera Ghazi Khan, Jhang, Khanewal and Chakwal.
A senior official told The Express Tribune that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has been kept on alert so that prompt action can be taken in case a sudden announcement is made by the government.
“We cannot disclose the schedule or duration of cellular services suspension due to security reasons,” he added.
Other measures
According to a press statement, the interior minister directed Muharram rallies to be escorted by two cordons of police and Rangers, adding that no vehicle without proper documents should be allowed on the roads.
The meeting also decided that the Frontier Constabulary would be deployed for patrolling and spot checking in Karachi.
Suspects likely to get involved in creating a law and order situation should be taken into preventive custody for 10 days during Muharram, the statement further directed.
No weapons with or without licence will be carried during Muharram in Karachi and Quetta while the permission for tinted glass vehicles standard cancelled across the country except for security-related official vehicles.
(with additional input by arshad baig in karachi)
Published in The Express Tribune, November 16th, 2012.
COMMENTS (14)
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This is just a rubbish idea closure of mobile phones network cannot help in stop of terrorism if u really want them to stop then stop being a VIP we common people are facing a lot of problems come out of those ac rooms and cars and see our condition facing loadshedding and break downs. this is just your justification towards people for taking votes RUBBISH KHUDA KA KHAUF KARO
Anything that the government does to control free fall of law and order is justifiable - courts should not become executives..
If we laugh on them, we laugh at us, we are the joke
Only the persons from elite class can appreciate the ban on motorbikes , they do not have any idea about the problems faced by the common men. Unfortunately they are the only representatives of political parties too. Actually they see Pakistan as their private entity. This ban cant slow down terrorism either, it is only gonna increase agitation and hatred against govt.
Rehman Malik is a true liberal.
This is not the solution Government should make our law agencies more efficient not banning pilion riding or mobile phone services. That means if mobile phones snatching rate is very high so they should also ban on using mobile phones.
This ban would have become an international joke
The ban on pillion riding is the result of a non-serious approach to controlling the security issues. For this the incumbent has to allocate funds which they do not want to do.
A ban for security is appreciable and welcome. To add to the kudos, it will be a welcome sign if the PPP gets down to priming up the security forces by training and equipping them on ultra modern lines. For this one has to ask the Americans how to solve the security related issues and acquire equipment and training.
I just saw a car with tinted glasses on the way to work this morning! The guy was probably law enforcement, but looked really young. . .
@Syed: Come on man. If slowing of bloodshed is the most important thing then why not we all just lock ourselves in home and ban venturing out of the home. There is security and then there is personal freedom. While police was busy nabbing pillion riding criminals and all, terrorists would have been planning their next move.
I was actually happy with the ban. It would have definitely slowed down the bloodshed of innocents. That is the most important thing for me. Let's hope our security agencies can come through and shoot the terrorists before they cause any damage
What the...? Then hey should have closed the schools and universities on Friday as well?
Meddling in executive !! Not a good idea courts
Good, finally some sense, if banning motorcycles and cell phones would be the answer then there would be no terrorism.