ISLAMABAD: The capital administration on Monday cancelled all no-objection certificates (NOCs) earlier issued for fireworks on Independence Day.

Besides, a ban was imposed on the sale of materials related to fireworks and removal of silencers from motorcycles.

An officer of the local administration said the capital administration was approached by managements of several business/shopping centres, public places such as parks and restaurants seeking NOCs for fireworks on Independence Day. After completion of the necessary procedure, the NOCs were issued to them.

Later, however, the matter was reconsidered in the light of reports regarding the security situation and it was decided that all the NOCs should be cancelled.

In this regard, a notification was also issued to inform those who had been issued the NOCs

“In view of the prevailing law and order situation, all NOCs issued for fireworks on August 14 in different areas/localities of Islamabad are hereby withdrawn with immediate effect,” the notification stated, adding no programme/function would be allowed to be held in Islamabad Aug 14.

Likewise, the administration also put a ban on the sale of fireworks in the capital.

A ban was also imposed on the removal of silencers from two wheelers to avoid nuisance on roads.

All main avenues, roads, shopping and business centres witness huge rush as a large number of people, including families, come out to celebrate the Independence Day.

But youngsters create nuisance, scenes and disturbances besides making hurdles in the flow of traffic. One such nuisance is created by motorcyclists by removing silencers from their two wheelers.

To check such practices, the administration banned the removal of silencers from motorcycles and asked the officials including law enforcers to implement it strictly.

The Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) were also approached to take strict action against those found involved in traffic violation. Separate teams of police and officials of the capital administration would be deployed in and round the city, including avenues, to keep an eye on the violators.

Last year, hundreds of motorcycles were impounded and fined for making such a nuisance. This year, motorcyclists would be fined and their vehicles impound if they violated the ban.

In this regard, a notification was issued from the office of District Magistrate Hamza Shafqaat.

“It has been brought to my notice that certain motorcycle riders are likely to create public nuisance on Independence Day by riding motorcycles with their silencers removed.”

It added that the district administration had found sufficient ground for proceeding under Section 144 to prohibit the use of motorcycles without silencers to avoid public nuisance within the limits of Islamabad.

The ban shall remain in force from Aug 13 to 14.

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2018