Bikes and phones: Rehman Malik defends ban citing intelligence

Interior minister states highest number of motorcycle bombings in Balochistan and Sindh.

ISLAMABAD:
Defending the decision to ban motorcycle riding and suspend cellular services, Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Friday said such extreme measures were based on intelligence and put into effect after Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf’s approval.

He said that they "put in black and white" the federation’s responsibility under Article 148 of the Constitution which is cited time and again by the court.

Malik briefed the media on the number of motorcycle bombings taking place in the city in 2011 and 2012, with Balochistan and Sindh having the highest number.


The interior minister insisted that the ban was based on information of received terrorism threats.

Earlier, the interior ministry’s directives for suspending cellular services were criticized by the Sindh High Court (SHC) which had ordered restoration of those services.

Malik said he would appeal the Sindh High Court’s decision against the ban imposed on motorcycles, reported DawnNews.
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