KARACHI: On the eve of the New Year, the district administration in Karachi has imposed section 144. The notification issued by the Karachi commissioner states that section 144 will be in effect from the evening of today until January 1st, 2024.
Aerial firing is prohibited in the metropolis, and strict action will be taken against violators.
In preparation for New Year’s Eve, the Karachi traffic police have devised a strategy to address the issue of drunk driving in the city. DIG traffic Iqbal Dara mentioned that separate teams have been formed to crack down on drunk drivers.
The police have acquired breathalyzers to test for alcohol consumption in suspicious drivers, aiming to prevent fatal road accidents associated with drunk driving. Drunk drivers will face legal consequences, and their vehicles will be seized.
Additionally, caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar announced a complete ban on all New Year celebrations as a gesture of solidarity with the oppressed Palestinians.
He urged the public to express unity with the people of Gaza by observing simplicity at the start of the New Year. The ban on events was implemented in light of the tragic events in Palestine, with a focus on expressing support for the Palestinians, especially the innocent children affected by the conflict in Gaza and the West Bank.
Senate Human Rights Committee Rejects Public Executions for Capital Offences
Meanwhile, the Senate’s Standing Committee on Human Rights, with a majority of members present, rejected any proposed statutory amendments advocating public execution for capital offenses.
During a meeting at the Parliament House chaired by Senator Walid Iqbal, the committee, through a majority vote, asserted that such amendments, involving public executions for serious crimes, should be opposed based on the constitutional rights guaranteed by superior courts and existing laws in Pakistan.
The committee urged the House to reject any such amendments if presented on its legislative agenda.
However, Senators Dr. Mehr Taj Roghani and Dr. Humayun Mohmand dissented, expressing disagreement with the committee’s decision, arguing that it was made hastily without proper research on the potential deterrent effects of public executions.
