In view of the security threats, Sindh government on Monday issued a notification announcing a ban on pillion riding throughout the province on the eve of Youm-i-Ali.

The ban, that will be effective on Wednesday, June 6, has been imposed under Section 144 (6) of Criminal Procedure Code.

The notification was issued by Sindh Home Secretary Qazi Shahid Pervez, who said that additional inspector general (AIG) of police, Karachi, and deputy inspector general (DIG) of police, Hyderabad, had expressed security concerns in their letters to the government.

Citing security threats to the religious gatherings and processions that are taken out on Yaum-e-Ali, the AIG Karachi and DIG Hyderabad had requested the provincial government to impose a ban on pillion riding.

The ban, however, will not be applicable to women, children under the age of 12, elderly citizens, journalists, law enforcement agencies' personnel in uniform as well as medics, firefighters and employees of rescue services.