New Year’s Eve revellers warned against aerial firing in Karachi

New Year’s Eve revellers across the country have been warned against aerial firing!

The warning comes after interim Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on Thursday announced a ban on all celebrations related to the New Year across the country.

In Karachi, a complete ban on the carrying or display of arms, aerial firing and use of fireworks has been imposed for two days.

Commissioner Muhammad Saleem Rajput said that the ban was imposed under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) to safeguard the people of the city during New Year’s celebrations.

The Commissioner Karachi while exercising powers delegated by the provincial home department imposed the ban from Dec 31 to Jan 1, 2024.

All SHOs posted in the metropolis have been authorised to register complaints under Section 188 of the Pakistan Penal Code in writing for the violation of Section 144 of the CrPC, the notification added.

It said that if any personnel are found involved in aerial firing tonight, his house allotment order would be cancelled and an FIR would be filed against the law enforcer.

In a statement, Karachi East Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Irfan Bahadur said police personnel have been deployed on the roads, adding that stern action would be taken against aerial firing and riding motorbikes without silencers and creating problems for others.

The police personnel will also search suspects at different points in the port city tonight.

He further added that the police have taken all-out measures to maintain law and order situation on the eve of New Year.

Giving details, the SSP Irfan Bahadur said that 2,600 police personnel have been deployed in District East alone.

“Two divisional SSPs, seven DSPs and 18 SHOs will be on the roads in their respective areas [during the event],” he added.

On the other hand, in Punjab, more than 21,000 police personnel were deployed across the province, including 2,373 police officers in Lahore.

In a statement released today, the Punjab police spokesperson quoting Punjab police chief Dr Usman Anwar, warned that indiscriminate action would be taken against revellers indulging in hooliganism, one-wheeling and aerial firing.

He added that a special police team had been formed for this purpose

While 2,312 metal detectors and thousands of security cameras were being used in the security of New Year events. Similar arrangements were also made in Multan, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala and other cities.