Despite imposition of Section 144 and instructions from Sindh Home Ministry to the police to check production and sale of the firework material, people continue to flout the law and use firecrackers at the arrival and departure of wedding parties at marriage halls.
Government hospital OPD staff told Business Recorder on Tuesday that they receive firecracker victims in great number each day and discharge them after first aid. They said that along with the use of firecrackers, that are designed to sound such as shot of rifle, explosion of bombs and automatic weapons, people use real arms and ammunition to celebrate weddings. Victims of firearm injury are also common and at times they come with fatal injuries.
Doctors at the JPMC said that many people get caught in between firing from real firearm and firecracker and receive injury. Deaths have also been reported from the wounds received from firecrackers. The most vulnerable part of the body that comes under attack is head or chest. Owners of marriage halls said that they discourage the use of firecrackers and firearms and before the booking of halls take written guarantee from clients but even then unhappy incidents take place.
They said that people show their disregard to instruction regarding the use of firecrackers in the presence of the police and attribute it to their traditions. They said that in the presence of the police and at times under the protection MNAs and MPAs of the ruling party, people use firecrackers and firearms and celebrate marriage parties.
A survey of markets has shown that the sale of firecrackers is still going on unchecked in Malir, Landhi, Model Colony, Gulshen-e-Iqbal Block 4, Nazimabad, Gulbahar, North Karachi, Baldia Town, Shershah and Lyari. Apart from these areas firecrackers are available in many other posh areas such as DHA and Clifton.
The station house officer in one locality said that imposition of ban is a yearly ritual and despite our booking the culprits they get out of lockups because of their political connections. "We leave them after a soft reprimand."
Ramazan, a firecracker seller, said that he had invested large sum in firecrackers and if he abided by the imposition of ban his entire investment was lost. "I will sell it at any cost to recover my investment. Selling firecrackers brings me some income which I badly need for my family."
He said that instead of imposing complete ban on the sale of firecrackers, there should have been permission to sell harmless material. The police would implement the orders throughout the province and ensure that there is complete ban on the use of firecrackers even outside marriage halls.