20000404

Ban on fire crackers

in Sindh

KARACHI: Sindh government has decided to impose total ban on making, sale, purchase and use of fire crackers throughout the province.

The decision to this effect has been taken at a meeting held under the chairmanship of Sindh Chief Secretary Muhammad Zubair Kidwai here on Monday.

The meeting took the decision while reviewing law and order situation with special reference to security arrangements for ensuring month of Muharram-ul-Harram.

The chief secretary directed the provincial home secretary for taking necessary action for the implementation of the decision.

The meeting also approved the proposal for taking action against concerned Station House Officer (SHO) as well as those involved in carrying out this business.

It was also decided to introduce from now onward a new ticketing system for the commuters travelling on inter-city routes.

The new ticket will have information about the name, address, and seat number of the passenger.

The meeting also decided that the conductors of public service vehicle should carry out the checking of luggage of passengers so as to check any incident of bomb blasts.

The chief secretary also directed the Commissioner Karachi to keep a vigil and beef-up security at all main shopping centres, bus stops and other public places.

The home secretary informed that his department has advised the associations of all major shopping plazas and commercial centres to have their own private security system also besides installations of "walk through" or security clearance gates at all the entrances.

The home department also presented a contingency plan prepared for Muharram focusing mainly on measures adopted for security/protection of all the processions, Majalis premises, Imambargahs/mosques and religious leaders.

It was informed that special squads organised by local bodies under the supervision of SDMs and SDPOs have been directed for removal of irritants/objectionable wall posters/wall chalking and slogans written on houses/wagons besides resolving disputes through their joint visits.

The meeting was also informed that no amendment or deviation of any existing licences for Muharram has been allowed. Every religious observance be carried out exactly in the same manner as in past with respect to timing and route, it was further informed.

The home secretary informed that district magistrates/S.D.Ms have also been directed to hold meetings with the licence holders/notables of the area for resolving and dispute/controversy in this regard.

The divisional commissioners of the province while giving out details of arrangements for Muharram informed that the peace committees from both Shia and Sunni sects a divisional/district/muhalla levels have also been activated for the establishment of harmony.

It was also informed that extra vigil will be kept to ensure that Ulemas whose entry has been banned in the province must not address any congregation vis-a-vis sale and distribution of provocative sectarian material/literature/audio cassettes tend to hurt religious feelings and creating hatred amongst various sects.

The meeting was further informed that sensitive areas have been identified and measures adopted to maintain strict security steps to avoid any untoward incident.

The home department further informed that a control room has been established specially for Muharram which would run round-the-clock having telephone Nos. 9211355/9211259 with fax No. 9211359 during 9.00 am to 5.00 pm and 5834519/5834508 with fax No. 5878883 during 5.00 pm to 9.00 am.

The control room will swiftly entertain any complaints from the general public.

The meeting was attended besides other by Director General Rangers Sindh and commissioners all D. I. Gs and D. I. G Special Branch.ÑAPP