Police take strict measures to reduce crowding, minimise casualties

New Year’s celebrations have always proved a challenge for the Karachi police in terms of controlling aerial firing, and despite the strict security arrangements made by the police, incidents of aerial firing continue to result in dozens of casualties on New Year’s Eve.

This year also the Karachi police made efforts to address the issue. On the one hand police conducted campaigns to raise awareness among the public, while on the other, stern warnings were issued for those who were to be found involved in aerial firing, indicating potential arrests on charges of attempted murder.

In addition to these measures, the Karachi police increased security, implemented snap checking and intensified mobile patrolling to ensure a safer environment during New Year’s celebrations.

In their efforts to prevent aerial firing on New Year’s Eve, police started collecting weapons as deposits from licence holders. Various police stations in the city gathered weapons from civilians, ensuring them that their firearms would be returned after the police complete their thorough verification process.

Police also warned of taking disciplinary actions against law enforcement officials engaging in aerial firing, including revoking their assignments and potentially dismissing them from service. A strong stance has been taken against officers involved in such activities, and legal proceedings will be initiated against them.

Meanwhile, in the late hours of Sunday, all business activities, especially the establishments with outside seating arrangements, in the city’s commercial areas were temporarily forced to close in order to reduce crowding and, in the case of any untoward incident, minimise casualties.

As in other parts of the city, the District East police also chalked out a security plan for New Year’s Eve. A relevant video released by the police department shows District East police chief SSP Irfan Bahadur spreading awareness among the public, and also providing detailed information about the security arrangements made by the police.

“In District East 2,600 personnel have been deployed at various locations,” explained SSP Bahadur. “Two divisional SPs and seven DSPs will be present on the roads in Karachi.”

He said SHOs of 18 police stations in the East district would be present in their respective areas, adding that new appointments were made at various locations in the district.

He stressed that whether a common resident or a government employee, the law would be applied equally to everyone. He also stressed that stringent actions would be taken against those involved in aerial firing.

The officer said that searches for suspicious persons would be conducted at various checkpoints, adding that random snap checking would be implemented on the roads.

Strict actions will be taken against motorcyclists riding without silencers, while all of these security arrangements will remain in place until further orders, he added.

The Sindh Rangers director general and East Zone police chief DIG Ghulam Azfar Mahesar also conducted a tour of various areas with the purpose of assessing the law and order situation. The primary objective of the tour was to evaluate the overall security and peace situation. SSP Bahadur also accompanied them.

During their visit DIG Mahesar reviewed the security arrangements, stressing upon the officers and personnel present on the occasion to perform their duties with the utmost dedication and vigilance. SSP Bahadur was actively overseeing the police flag march and patrolling in his jurisdiction.

All officers and personnel were urged to take strict action against those involved in aerial firing, snatching and creating chaos. They were told to take immediate and rigorous legal action in the event of any unpleasant incident.

Sindh police chief IGP Riffat Mukhtar Raja also ordered the police to ensure the prevention of aerial firing and hooliganism on New Year’s Eve. He stressed that everyone collaborate with the municipal government, the police and other law enforcement agencies.

The IGP said the police have taken measures to ensure people’s protection in view of New Year’s celebrations, adding that the protection of the public’s lives and properties is the top priority of the police.

He told his subordinates to conduct search operations in the affected areas upon receiving information about aerial firing. He also ordered them to take strict legal action against those involved in aerial firing.

He also told them to ensure the active involvement of religious scholars and other respected individuals as part of the police’s anti-aerial firing initiatives.

He made it clear that no leniency would be shown to those engaged in aerial firing, and that responsibility would be imposed on other area supervisors.

The caretaker home and prison minister said people’s New Year’s celebrations would not be dampened if they act like civilised, law-abiding and well-behaved citizens. “Nobody will be allowed to carry a weapon, use narcotics or resort to aerial firing on New Year’s Eve.”

He ordered ensuring strict action against those found involved in aerial firing on New Year’s Eve. “It is evident that celebratory aerial firing, besides loss of precious lives, disturb the peace, and cause a feeling of fear and danger among people, so the police must cease it using all legal mechanisms available, including pre-emptive and preventive action.”

The interim home minister ordered the IGP to ensure that the police remain proactively vigilant to maintain law and order, thus ensuring on-ground security measures at all markets, public parks, food outlets, shopping malls and other public places, especially by deploying police at strategic points for prompt and quick response to protect the lives and properties of people.