KARACHI: The Sindh government on Saturday imposed a two-day ban on pillion riding in Karachi and Hyderabad in line with the security arrangements being made for Youm-e-Ali, said an official.

“The decision has been taken on the advice of security and law enforcement agencies,” he said citing police and other law enforcement agencies’ proposal for the curb.

A notification, issued by the home department, said that the ban would remain in place for two days.

It said that the pillion-riding ban would come into force from Saturday midnight.

“Women, disabled persons, senior citizens, journalists, personnel of law enforcement agencies and children below 12 years of age would remain exempted from the ban,” said the notification.

MWM wants extra security

The Majlis-e-Wahdatul Muslimeen on Saturday expressed its dissatisfaction over the proposed security arrangements for Yaum-i-Ali and demanded that the government take foolproof measures.

Speaking at a press conference, MWM leaders said that some recent incidents in Karachi, including the assassination of renowned qawwal Amjad Sabri and kidnapping of Awais Shah, the son of Sindh High Court chief justice, exposed tall claims of the government.

“Although the government has claimed to have made effective security measures for Yaum-i-Ali, we have our reservations and we have also conveyed them to the authorities concerned,” said Allama Mubashir Hasan of the MWM. “The government must ensure foolproof security and provide every possible resource for the occasion to be passed peacefully.”

He said that it was the failure of the government and law enforcement agencies that killers and criminals took control of Karachi in Ramzan.

Allama Ali Anwar, Allama Ahsan Danish and Allama Sadiq Jaffery were also present.

Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2016