LAHORE, Jan 20: District governments in Multan, Vehari and Faisalabad on Saturday imposed a ban on pillion riding from Muharram 1 to 10 in the revenue limits of their districts. In Gujranwala, the ban will be effective from Muharram 6.

The ban was imposed after reports that terrorists could use motorcycles for subversive activities during the month of Muharram. However, children, elderly people, women, government employees and school-going children will exempt from the ban.

Vehari DPO Malik Tassadaq Hayat said there was no need to call in army. The district government had banned the entry of 11 ulema belonging to different schools of thought.

He said police had chalked out a foolproof security plan. Leaves of police personnel had been cancelled while security at mosques, seminaries, imambargahs, churches and other sacred places had been tightened.