Banned: Section 144 imposed on sale of open petrol

DC says only government printing presses can produce official documents

PESHAWAR: Peshawar Deputy Commissioner Zahirul Islam issued two separate notifications on Wednesday, imposing Section 144 for 30 days against the printing of fake service cards and on the open sale of petroleum products.

As per the notification issued on Wednesday, the government banned production at printing presses making fake service cards and official documents. The other notification banned the open sale of petroleum, saying the product cannot be sold in bottles and canisters in the provincial capital. Managers of four petrol stations have also been arrested, said Assistant Commissioner Inam.



Speaking about the ban on ‘illegal’ printing presses, the deputy commissioner’s public relations officer, Feroz Shah, said: “Only government printing presses can produce service cards and other official documents.” He said anyone found violating the restriction would be prosecuted against under Section 188.

Provincial Press and Printing Publication’s former president Zafar Khattak told The Express Tribune the notification was issued without consulting owners of the presses. He said their business was already suffering due to militancy, adding he was well aware of the number of illegal presses working under the nose of the government.

DC Zahirul Islam told The Express Tribune the district administration would take action against printing presses operating without a no-objection certificate.

Meanwhile, answering a query, Zafar Khattak said government printing presses lack the necessary facilities. He said union representatives of printing press owners should be taken into confidence by the government when issuing a no-objection certificate. He said press owners will meet on Thursday (today) to resolve the issue.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 22^nd, 2015.