The government on Thursday imposed a ban on motorcycle riding in Karachi and Quetta on Friday (today), citing security concerns. Interior Minister Rehman Malik, while talking to media after a meeting for reviewing security arrangements, said that bike riding would not be allowed between 6am and 7pm to avert security threats.
Malik said that there were intelligence reports suggesting that terrorists "are planning to mount strikes, using motorbikes in Karachi and Quetta". He said that no one would be exempt from this ban. "Display of weapons will also be banned in Karachi and Quetta," Malik said.
The interior minister said that the government was also considering shutting down mobile phone services in the two cities. However, he said, that a decision in this regard "will be made on Friday". An official said that the meeting directed Balochistan and Sindh governments to impose a complete ban on motorcycle on the first of Muharram between 6am to 7pm. The meeting also decided to close all shops between 10am and 5pm in Karachi and Quetta, he said.
He said that elements targeting innocent people would be dealt with an iron fist to ensure public safety. Police and Rangers, he said, would man inner and outer cordons to protect people participating Muharram processions. The meeting, he said, had also decided to allow no vehicle on the road without proper documentation, adding that FC personnel would be deployed in Karachi, manning patrols and check-posts.
Prime suspects, who were likely to be involved in creating law and order situation, would be taken into a 10-day preventive custody. He said that no one would be allowed to carry weapons, with or without licenses and permits during Muharram in the two cities. All permissions for vehicles with tinted glass were cancelled in the entire country except for security-related official vehicles. "No such vehicle will be allowed to ply on roads."
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