Sindh govt imposes section 144 for Muharram: Bans pillion riding

KARACHI: During the holy month of Muharram, the Sindh government imposed a ban on pillion riding across the province to ensure peace and maintain law and order, according to a notification from the provincial home department released on Saturday.

According to the notification, the ban on pillion riding will be effective on Muharram 9 and 10, ahead of Ashura, as the new Islamic year begins in the first week of July.

However, the ban shall not apply to women, children under 12 years old, senior citizens, differently-abled persons, journalists, law enforcement personnel and private security personnel in uniform, and employees of essential services.

The Sindh government, according to the home department, has also imposed a ban on carrying and displaying weapons, as well as holding processions and Majalis without a permit, in the province under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) until Ashura.

Sindh authorities have been notified to take action regarding the following from Muharram 1 to 10:

1. Use of loudspeakers in contravention of “The Sindh Sound System (Regulation) Act 2015”;
2. Processions, rallies, Majalis, Jalsa, Tazia without a permit;
3. Use of helicams/drones
4. Speeches, wall chalking, posters, banners, leaflets, audios, videos, etc. inciting hatred and violence;
5. Presence of any unauthorized person on rooftops during Muharram events;
6. Riding as a passenger on a motorcycle;
7. Carrying weapons or ammunition, except for law enforcement personnel and private security agencies on duty;
8. Assembly of five or more persons, excluding Muharram processions, rallies, Majalis, Jalsa, Tazia;

According to the directives, Station House Officers (SHOs) of respective police stations have been authorized to file written complaints under Section 188 PPC against violators of Section 144 CrPC as per the notification.

Furthermore, it stated, “All permissions issued by the Home Department, Sindh, allowing the carrying of weapons in relaxation of the ban under Section 144 CrPC shall be suspended during the aforementioned period.”