In a decision that is surely to dampen Eid festivities for thousands of citizens, the Sindh government on Saturday imposed a ban on pillion riding in the city for three days.

The move has been made to restore some semblance of normalcy in the metropolis, where around a dozen people have been murdered in various areas since the wee hours of the day, a testament to the failure of police to effectively implement its Ramazan security plan.

The home department has notified that the ban would be applicable after Saturday midnight.

Official sources said that the police department had recommended that the

provincial government should immediately impose the ban in view of the worsening law and order situation in the city.

Lamenting the decision, citizens termed the ban as an exercise in futility that serves no other purpose than to create nuisances for the public.

“This practice has been going on for years without producing any worthwhile results in terms of improving the situation in Karachi,” an irked citizen told The News.

“The ban creates a great deal of difficulties for hundreds of citizens, who travel to their offices on motorcycles.”

Earlier, the government had imposed a ban on pillion riding in Karachi and Hyderabad on Tuesday as part of the security plan for Yaum-e-Ali.

Rangers’ special powers

According to another notification, the home department has extended the period of the special powers granted to Rangers for three more months.

The Rangers’ powers are being extended on a quarterly basis for the last two years in order to being the law and order situation in Karachi under control. These powers grant Rangers the authority to arrest people and conduct raids.

JI slams ban

Jamaat-e-Islami leader Birjees Ahmed condemned the ban imposed on pillion riding.

In a statement, he pleaded with the government to have pity on the poor masses that were already facing a miserable condition due to poverty, inflation, extortion and killings in the city.

He termed the ban illogical and said that so far no positive results could be obtained from the ban. He was of the view that political will, not the ban on pillion riding, was a solution to target killing or street crimes.