KARACHI: Karachi authorities are taking proactive measures for New Year’s Eve, and Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi has imposed Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code. It will be effective from December 31, 2024, to January 1, 2025.
A notification was issued on December 24, 2024. The ban includes aerial firing, fireworks, and the display of firearms. These steps address public safety concerns and traffic congestion in the city.
New Year’s Eve has been observed in Karachi for the past years, which is marked by reckless aerial gunfire and the use of fireworks that result in injuries and loss of lives. In light of these incidents, the South Deputy Inspector General of Police has formally proposed the ban for the safety of citizens.
The notification highlighted that a huge crowd of youngsters would typically gather at Seaview and other similar spots on motorcycles and cars, leading to a massive traffic jam causing inconvenience to residents of the area.
Some people engage in aerial firing causing unfortunate incidents, which sometimes could lead to the loss of lives, said the commissioner. Arms display, aerial firing, and firecrackers will curb these incidents.
Section 144 is a legal provision that allows district administrations to restrict gatherings of four or more people over a limited period. That would facilitate the fact that only a crowd may be controlled and order maintained on festive nights.
Karachiites are also encouraged on this holiday to merry-make lawfully and comply with acts that prevent them from injury during their celebrations and those of their neighbors. Ensuring compliance with this notification by law enforcement agencies is what will be high on these agencies’ alerts.
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