Summary A ban on pillion riding has been imposed in several cities including Karachi and Faisalabad.
LAHORE (Dunya News) - Security has been tightened across the country for today (Friday) in view of the protests planned by religious parties against the Rawalpindi tragedy.
Considering the possibility of a law and order situation with rival sectarian outfits on the streets, a ban on pillion riding has been imposed in several cities including Karachi and Faisalabad.
The ban would remain in place till midnight Friday (November 22).
Pillion riding has been banned in view of the recommendations made by the concerned law enforcement agencies as security arrangements in the city had to be tightened due to calls for protest by different religious organisations,” the home affairs adviser Sharfuddin Memon said.
The ban had just been lifted from Karachi after it was extended from Muharram 9 and 10 for around four more days owing to persistent threats in the aftermath of sectarian strife in Rawalpindi.
Meanwhile, the Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) among other Shia community organisations had announced a countrywide protest against the murder of innocent people on Ashura in Rawalpindi.
The MWM spokesman, Ali Ahmer, clarified that this was a protest call and not a strike as given by some other parties.
The Shia-led outfits have also announced observing “Youm-e-Azmat-e-Nawasa-e-Rasool (PBUH)”.
Apart from the main demonstration at the MA Jinnah Road, protests would also be held outside mosques and imambargahs against the arson attacks on imambargahs in Rawalpindi.
Meanwhile, the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) also called for a protest of its own on Friday to express solidarity with those martyred in the Rawalpindi tragedy
A public meeting and a protest rally would be held after Juma prayers at Guru Mandir, announced ASWJ leader Aurangzeb Farooqi while addressing a press conference at his office.
He, however, stressed the demonstration would be peaceful and transporters and traders could continue their business. “No hurdles should be created against the protest or else the government would be responsible for the repercussions,” he warned.
Farooqi called upon the government to play a responsible role and arrest the culprits involved in the attack on Taleem-ul-Quran in Rawalpindi, which he claimed was carried out “by known people”.
Replying to a question, ASWJ Spokesman Umar Mavia said the rally of his organisation would be staged at Guru Mandir while the MWM’s demonstration was planned at Tibet Centre.
