LAHORE, March 4: Ending a controversy between the provincial home department and the IGP, the Punjab government announced on Tuesday a ban on pillion riding from Muharram 1 to 14.
The decision to this effect was taken after a meeting on law and order, which was presided over by Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi here.
Senior citizens, patients, women, journalists, children and students appearing for the ongoing matriculation examination would be exempted from the ban. The students would have to produce their roll number slips during checking by police.
The IGP had first imposed the ban after a meeting with the chief minister on March 1. The ban was forthwith and for an indefinite period. The next day the home department declared that the IGP was not competent to impose the ban when he requested for the issuance of a notification in this regard.
The IGP was informed that the home department could also not prohibit pillion riding under a court ruling. The home department could only extend the ban if imposed for only two days by the district governments, the IGP was told.
Home Secretary Brig Ejaz Shah (retired) informed reporters on Tuesday that the ban would be imposed by all district governments in their areas of jurisdiction and his department was issuing directions to them in this regard.
Interestingly, an official handout, issued later in the day by the IGP office, stated that the ban would remain effective from Muharram 5 to 14. But the date was corrected through another handout issued afterwards.
Sources informed Dawn that the meeting discussed threadbare the implications of the pillion-riding ban and it was admitted that it could only be imposed by district governments.
They said the meeting discussed the security plan for Muharram and the chief minister directed police to remain pro-active while maintaining law and order, especially during the month.
He asked police to daily convey details of each and every major crime to the provincial cell working under Law Minister Raja Basharat. The cell was also directed to pursue major cases of crime in courts so as to ensure conviction of culprits.
The chief minister asked the IGP to recommend the dismissal of corrupt and inept officers and officials rather than merely suspending them from service.
He directed that strong police contingent should be posted at sensitive places during Muharram to prevent any untoward incident. Police should also pro-actively respond in case of any eventuality.
The meeting also discussed the method of recruiting another 10,000 ASIs and constables in near future.
Meanwhile, taking a notice of the murder of Pervaiz Malik, brother-in-law of Senator Raza Rabbani, in a dacoity near Shimla Hill, the chief minister directed the IGP to arrest the culprits.
He asked the IGP to scientifically investigate the matter and make a comprehensive plan to curb such incidents. Inquiries into heinous crime should also be completed within a stipulated time.