Dangerous games: Firecrackers continue to pop
Youngsters celebrate Independence Day using firecrackers despite ban.
Youngsters celebrate Independence Day using firecrackers despite ban.
RAWALPINDI:
As residents celebrated Independence Day by putting up the national flag at their house or decorating their cars, some youngsters did what they do best every year: set off firecrackers much to the dismay of others.
While it is public knowledge that sale of firecrackers is banned by law, those in the loop know of places that sell these items every year nearing national holidays.
One such place is Narankari Bazaar, which becomes an underground hotspot for the illegal buying and selling of firecrackers every year.
A resident of Raja Bazaar told The Express Tribune, on condition of anonymity, that firecrackers are usually kept hidden in stores and distributors only sell them to someone they personally know. “When I went to buy firecrackers last year the seller had hidden them in a separate box,” he said.
He added that one of the most easily available and frequently sold item is ‘Machis Patakha’ which is illegally imported from China, whereas others such as ‘Sooter Bomb, Patakha Belt, Hawaai Patakha, Phuljhari and Anaar’ are local items.
“Eventually due to the ban, these items are not sold in as much frequency, and as easily as they used to be,” said the resident.
The sale of firecrackers is banned according to clause 86 of Pakistani Penal Code and we are liable to arrest an individual even if he or she found in possession of very few items, said SHO of the Ganj Mandi Police Station Inspector Muhammad Mumtaz.
He said the government imposed the ban after a fatal blast at Ganj Mandi in a warehouse in 1998.
“Most sellers maintain secret stocks of items illegally imported from China,” he added.
Talking to The Express Tribune on the eve of Independence Day, Mumtaz said police have already arrested and registered FIRs against 12 individuals caught red-handed selling firecrackers. A police picket comprising of one ASP along with five constables has been deployed at Narankari Bazaar this year, he shared.
Despite the ban, youngsters celebrated Independence Day by burning firecrackers at midnight in the twin cities.
Looking at the aspect from a psychological perspective, Asma Shaheen, a social psychologist, said burning firecrackers in massive amounts on such occasions has become a routine for kids. She said adolescents feel the need to be at the top of everything they do, and likewise show-off the best possible way they can among their peer group.
“It is less about celebrating the Independence Day in spirit and more about competition,” said Shaheen.
“As a result, August 14 is not about patriotism, rather a permit for children to spend huge amounts on burning firecrackers,” she added. Terming the attitude as an attention and pleasure seeking behaviour, Shaheen said kids who find lesser opportunities to enjoy normally end up having fun in a totally wrong and unsafe way.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 15th, 2015.
As residents celebrated Independence Day by putting up the national flag at their house or decorating their cars, some youngsters did what they do best every year: set off firecrackers much to the dismay of others.
While it is public knowledge that sale of firecrackers is banned by law, those in the loop know of places that sell these items every year nearing national holidays.
One such place is Narankari Bazaar, which becomes an underground hotspot for the illegal buying and selling of firecrackers every year.
A resident of Raja Bazaar told The Express Tribune, on condition of anonymity, that firecrackers are usually kept hidden in stores and distributors only sell them to someone they personally know. “When I went to buy firecrackers last year the seller had hidden them in a separate box,” he said.
He added that one of the most easily available and frequently sold item is ‘Machis Patakha’ which is illegally imported from China, whereas others such as ‘Sooter Bomb, Patakha Belt, Hawaai Patakha, Phuljhari and Anaar’ are local items.
“Eventually due to the ban, these items are not sold in as much frequency, and as easily as they used to be,” said the resident.
The sale of firecrackers is banned according to clause 86 of Pakistani Penal Code and we are liable to arrest an individual even if he or she found in possession of very few items, said SHO of the Ganj Mandi Police Station Inspector Muhammad Mumtaz.
He said the government imposed the ban after a fatal blast at Ganj Mandi in a warehouse in 1998.
“Most sellers maintain secret stocks of items illegally imported from China,” he added.
Talking to The Express Tribune on the eve of Independence Day, Mumtaz said police have already arrested and registered FIRs against 12 individuals caught red-handed selling firecrackers. A police picket comprising of one ASP along with five constables has been deployed at Narankari Bazaar this year, he shared.
Despite the ban, youngsters celebrated Independence Day by burning firecrackers at midnight in the twin cities.
Looking at the aspect from a psychological perspective, Asma Shaheen, a social psychologist, said burning firecrackers in massive amounts on such occasions has become a routine for kids. She said adolescents feel the need to be at the top of everything they do, and likewise show-off the best possible way they can among their peer group.
“It is less about celebrating the Independence Day in spirit and more about competition,” said Shaheen.
“As a result, August 14 is not about patriotism, rather a permit for children to spend huge amounts on burning firecrackers,” she added. Terming the attitude as an attention and pleasure seeking behaviour, Shaheen said kids who find lesser opportunities to enjoy normally end up having fun in a totally wrong and unsafe way.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 15th, 2015.