KARACHI:
The Government of Sindh has imposed a ban, under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), on the plying of heavy vehicles on main thoroughfares in Karachi Division between 5pm and 12am during the holy month of Ramazan. The ban will cover heavy vehicles such as trucks and goods trailers.
The home department has issued a notification in this regard.
On the other hand, the United Goods Transporters Alliance's leader, Fazal Manan, lamented that industrial areas were located in the heart of the city and imposing a ban without providing any alternative routes for the heavy vehicles would cause considerable losses.
Commenting on the timings, Manan said that it was just 'technical blackmailing' by the law enforcers. He said that if a vehicle entered the city before or after the allotted time, it would have to stop until the next day. Then, he said, it would reach the factory, unload the goods and would have to stay there till the next day. Meanwhile, the police teams keep coming back for bribe, he added.
He said that the vehicle owners have to bear the cost of drivers, conductors and their daily expenses during such bans and restricted timings.
The home department has also banned pillion riding on motorcycles under section 144 (6)of the CrPC from July 18 to July20 (Ramazan19 to Ramazan21) in Karachi and Sukkur Divisions.
According to the notification, on Ramazan 21, falling on Sunday July 20, a procession in connection with the Shahadat Day of Hazrat Ali will be taken out from Nishtar Park to Hussainian Iranian Imam Bargah Kharadar and it will be mandatory to get stickers to be displayed on wind screen of the vehicles that will pass through the procession route and the main thoroughfares.
The ban will not be applicable on women, children below the age of 12 years, senior citizens, journalists, personnel of law enforcement agencies and employees of essential services.
Most citizens are against a ban on pillion riding. They were, however, relieved this time around it was falling on a Sunday. "One of us has to travel by bus or rickshaw when the ban is imposed on pillion riding," said Rashid, who usually goes to work along with his brother on motorcycle.
Besides, the law enforcers take benefit of the ban and harass the citizens, he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 17th, 2014.
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