Karachi: Section 144 imposed, ban on public gatherings, pillion riding

[Naveed Yaseen]

KARACHI: After receiving reports of terror activities, Section 144 has been imposed in the province to restrict political public gatherings by the Sindh government while, once again, a ban has been imposed by the government on pillion riding.

Sources in the Sindh government disclosed that intelligence agencies have given a warning about terror activities across the province especially that terrorist would target public gatherings such as processions and rallies.

Sindh Chief Secretary Fazalur Rehman, while talking to Daily Times, said that the Sindh government has banned public meetings, rallies and processions for all political, religious and other parties across the province, especially in Karachi for the next 30 days.

Rehman went on to say that the assembling of five or more persons, and the carrying of arms have also been banned. He added that the government has also imposed a ban on pillion riding for the next 15 to 20 days after the killing of a PSF worker on Friday. He stated that the ban can be extended if the need arises.

The government took this decision after the tense situation in Taiser Town where a person, belonging to the Christian community, was killed while two others were injured on Wednesday night after controversial pro-Taliban wall chalking was written on the walls of a church in the area.

Following the imposition of Section 144, the ruling MQM has immediately postponed two public gatherings. One of them was a workers’ convention scheduled for May 1 and the other was scheduled for May 3 at Nishtar Park. Pakistani Bengalis Action Committee had also planned a second event in which MQM chief Altaf Hussain was scheduled to speak.

On the other hand, the Sunni Tehreek (ST) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) have refused to postpone their planned public gatherings. According to a press release, the ST rejected the imposition of Section 144 and announced that its Difa-e-Islam rally, scheduled for April 26, would be held despite the ban. Similarly, JI has also announced that the party’s rally scheduled for May 3, against the increasing US involvement in the country’s affairs, would be held despite the ban.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...009_pg12_3