Sindh imposes pillion riding ban on Chehlum

KARACHI: The government of Sindh has announced ban on pillion riding across the province on Chehlum of the martyrs of Karbala on Tuesday (tomorrow).

Provincial home department in a notification said, the Sindh government imposed ban on pillion riding on motorbikes in exercise of powers under Section 144 (6) of the criminal procedure code during the chehlum on Oct 30 and up to Nov 2 in the province.”

Under the government orders, the pillion riding in Karachi has been banned for only one day, on Oct 30.

In other divisions of the province i.e. Hyderabad, Shaheed Benazirabad, Mirpurkhas, Sukkur and Larkana, the pillion-riding ban would begin from Oct. 29 (today) and will remain in place upto November 2.

The notification, however, said that the ban shall not be applicable on women, children below the age of 12, senior citizens, journalists, law enforcement agencies personnel in uniforms and the employees of essential services.

The provincial administration has also asked the federal government to suspend cellular and internet services in Karachi and other major cities of Sindh along the routes of main processions of mourning at a specific time.

The home department has asked the interior ministry and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority for suspension of mobile and internet services in all divisions of the province during the chehlum.

The government has recommended suspension in cellular services in Karachi on Oct 30 (tomorrow) from 10am to 8pm along the routes of the main procession.