PESHAWAR: The district administration of Peshawar has cancelled Eid holidays of all the assistant commissioners and assigned them duties on Eidul Fitr.

According to an official, Deputy Commissioner Zaheerul Islam on Thursday under Section 144 banned the firing in the air, riding of motorcycles without silencers, one wheeling and renting out houses without police permission, and directed the police to take strict action in case of violations in this regard.

The AC Peshawar has been assigned the duty as focal person to monitor implementation of the Section 144, control price hike and redress public complaints. The DC also directed the officials of other relevant departments to remain alert.

Meanwhile, the official said that some 57 people had been arrested for profiteering, selling substandard food items and running sheesha house on University Road on Thursday. A net café was sealed at Deans Centre for screening porn movies and its owner arrested. The arrested people, he said, would be released after Eid.

Sunni Ulema Council has also appealed to public to avoid firing in the air on the eve of Eid as it could take precious lives of innocent people. Similarly, the director general of Rescue 1122 Asad Ali has also directed the officials concerned to remain on duty both in Peshawar and Mardan offices to avert any untoward incident.

Published in Dawn, July 254th, 2014