ISLAMABAD: A large number of young people spent their Eid holidays performing stunts on their motorcycles and as a result some 200 landed in the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims). Out of these, 60 were admitted to the hospital and 30 were reported to be in serious condition.

On the other hand, Islamabad Police claimed that traffic and operational police personnel managed to make best possible security and traffic arrangements during Eid days.

Each year, on occasions such as Chand Raat and Eid a large number of motorcyclists are seen performing stunts such as one-wheeling on various roads of the federal capital.

Despite strict instructions by senior police officials to cops to ensure that motorcyclists do not perform such stunts on the streets of the capital, this dangerous tradition was upheld. On various roads such as Seventh Avenue, Ninth Avenue, I.J. Principal Road and Faizabad Bridge youngsters were seen performing risky stunts.

A police official, requesting anonymity, told Dawn that many efforts were made by the police to stop young men from performing stunts but few complied.

“We arrested some youngsters but their parents begged police to release their children because it is Eid,” he said.

Pims Media Coordinator Dr Waseem Khawaja told Dawn that 200 people injured in motorcycle accidents were brought to the emergency during Eid days.

“A majority of them had sustained head injuries because of which, 60 motorcyclists were admitted to the neurosurgery ward. Out of these, 30 are still in serious condition and 20 were operated on,” he said.

In 2012, SSP Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) Dr Moeen Masood had constituted special squads to curb practices such as one wheeling and underage driving, which put the lives of violators and other drivers at risk.

These squads patrolled areas such as Seventh Avenue, Ninth Avenue, Murree Road, Kashmir Highway and other areas of the city and take action against those performing stunts. Moreover, the police frequently made appeals to parents to ensure their children are not engaging in such dangerous activities. However, these efforts by the police proved short-lived.

In an official statement issued on Monday, Islamabad Police claimed that police teams were constituted to patrol various urban and rural areas.

Keeping in view the large number of visitors at public places, security measures were also taken at Shakarparian, Daman-i-Koh, Rose and Jasmine Garden, Monal, Lake View Park, Chattar Park and Centaurus.

Published in Dawn, July 21st, 2015

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