Pillion riding banned in several cities ahead of Chehlum

LAHORE: Pillion riding has been banned in several cities across the country on the occasion of Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) Saturday, Geo News reported.

Curfew has been imposed in the adjoining areas of procession routes in Bannu while pillion riding and exhibition of arms is also banned. Afghan refugees are also prohibited from entering the city on the occasion.

Deputy Commissioner Ayaz Khan told that security personnel will be deployed on the procession routes.

DCO Mianwali Mohammad Khan Ranjha told that pillion riding has been banned throughout the district while mobile phone service will also remain suspended today.

Pillion riding has been banned in Sargodha as well while the entry and exit routes of the city have been sealed by placing barbed wires.

In Bhakkar, cellular service will remained blocked from 10:00 am to 06:00 pm today while pillion riding has also been banned.

Sindh home department had announced a ban on pillion riding and the use of helicams (drone cameras) on 13 in Karachi.

The ban was imposed under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code to ensure security during the Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain. The traffic police also issued guidelines for participants of the Chehlum procession on December 13.

According to the issued guidelines, all participating vehicles must acquire a special sticker pass for the rally. Law enforcement agencies, district administration officials, ambulances and media organisations had submitted their applications for stickers from December 9 to December 11 at the DIG Traffic’s office at Garden Police Headquarters Garden.

District Coordination Officer Noorul Amin Mengal under section 144 CrPC has put ban on pilling riding in the Faisalabad district in wake of Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain being observed today. However, security officials in uniform, women media persons and children less than 12 years of age were exempted from the prohibition.

The City Traffic Police Rawalpindi also banned pillion riding in the city for two days, Dec 12 and 13, for the security of Chehlum processions. Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Shoaib Khurrum Janbaz, in a statement issued here on Friday, had directed all wardens, beat incharges and sector incharges to take strict action against the violators.