PESHAWAR, Oct 3: Police have launched a drive against aerial firing and plan to create awareness among people about its hazardous effects and dire legal consequences if an accused gets caught, a senior police official said on Wednesday.

“We have made contacts with members of the union council, shopkeepers, trade unions, NGOs, ulema, community members and local government representatives in the provincial capital to discourage aerial firing during Eid celebrations,” SSP Operations Mohammad Tahir Khan said.

He said that banners inscribed with slogans against aerial firing would be displayed on police stations, important public places and vehicles. Mr Khan said that SPs, DSPs and SHOs had been directed to hold meetings with public and local government representatives for the purpose.

A similar campaign was launched last year during the month of Ramazan. People had appreciated the campaign and a sharp decrease in aerial firing incidents was witnessed on the eve of Eid.

Aerial firing is a common practice in Pukhtoon society. In rural and urban areas of the NWFP and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), people usually express happiness by firing into the air during festivities such as marriages, Eid, birth of a child, etc.

The SSP said police would approach ulema to discourage people about the practice at religious congregations and in Friday sermons.

He warned that violators would spend their Eid in jail. He hoped that the current drive would bear fruits like previous years.—APP