Daily Times

LAHORE: City Police has finalised a security plan for New Year’s eve and more than 12,000 cops will be deputed across the city.

Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Amin Wains said that strict action would be taken against those transgressing the limits of law and ethics, indulging in drinking, aerial firing, one-wheeling, racing and hooliganism.

He added that no immoral or illegal activity would be tolerated. “No person is above the law. No one involved in hooliganism, reckless driving or festive firing will be spared,” he said.

The divisional SPs have been directed to ascertain advance information regarding possible events being conducted in their areas to celebrate New Year. In case of contravention of law, strict action will be ensured, the CCPO said.

He added that special squads had been formulated to check hooliganism and motorcycles without silencer, vehicle racing and overloading on New Year night, especially at important roads including The Mall, Jail Road, Main Boulevard, Ferozepur Road, Ring Road and other important roads of the city.

The CCPO also appealed to the citizens, especially parents to discourage underage children, as well as other young men not to participate in these dangerous activities. He said that police would be present at all important roads and other places to facilitate the citizens, and would not spare those involved in such activities.

Acting CTO Sardar Asif said that the City Traffic Police had formulated a comprehensive traffic plan for New Year night.

He added that the CTP would take stern action against one-wheeling and rash driving. He said that a number of wardens and other officers had been deputed at The Mall, Jail Road, Ferozepur Road, the Main Boulevard, Lahore Ring Road, Shalimar Road, GT Road, Canal Bank Road and other important roads across the city.

He also advised circle officers that they would appoint the traffic wardens by identifying the roads where one-wheeling and motor racing held. He said that at New Year night, the traffic police would take action and would register cases under Section 279 PPC against one-wheeling, over-speeding and reckless driving. The vehicles will be handed over to relevant police stations, he said.

Separately, the Pakistan Medical Association expressed concern over the deaths and injuries caused due to aerial firing on New Year. “In this regard, PMA wants to draw the attention of the government towards the incidents of aerial firing during the upcoming New Year Night celebrations. This happens all over Pakistan. As a result of such incidents, innocent people lose their lives or are injured,” the PMA said.

PMA Secretary General Qaisar Sajjad said that authorities had never taken such issues seriously. “They should have a zero tolerance policy against celebratory gunfire. The government should take strict measures to stop aerial firing. The law should also be implemented strictly to avoid any untoward incident on the occasion of New Year,” he said.

He said that PMA had earlier written to the Chief Justice of Pakistan, requesting him to take suo motu notice of the situation. “It is the responsibility of the government to protect the lives of the people of Pakistan. We urge the government to ban the tradition of aerial firing for any celebration to save the lives of the innocent people,” he said.