Police say fresh campaign launched against festive firing

PESHAWAR: The police have launched a fresh campaign against the increasing trend of the festive firing in the provincial capital and other districts.

A boy named Jalal was killed while two others sustained injuries due to stray bullets in the city during the last two weeks. Thousands of rounds are fired in the air daily, especially at weekends in Peshawar and other districts, causing a serious threat to the lives of the people.

“A fresh campaign has been launched on the directives of the capital city police officer after which at least 29 people involved in the practice have been arrested in Saddar Division alone. People have been conveyed the message through nazims and elders that action will be taken in case of aerial firing at wedding or other occasions,” Superintendent of Police (SP) Saddar Sajjad Khan told reporters on Monday.

He said apart from those involved in the festive firing, action will be taken against the relevant station house officer as well as the manager and owner of wedding hall in case of violation of the ban on the celebratory firing.

The trend of festive firing at weddings and other functions has increased in Peshawar over the last few years.

Police have failed to keep a check on the practice as despite launching several campaigns on different occasions, the practice has increased during the last few years. Cops do not take action against the influential people in most of the cases but arrest commoners even for fireworks. Hundreds of people lost lives or became paralysed after being hit by stray bullets in recent years.

Campaigns were launched against the festive firing in the past years by placing banners and placards against the practice and involving elders, elected members and religious scholars to discourage the menace. However, because of the lack of proper laws as well as commitment on part of the police, the practice goes on almost daily in several parts of the province and the country.