PESHAWAR: The local administration has imposed a ban on toy guns and firecrackers ahead of Eid ul Fitr, citing concerns over the deteriorating law and order situation. The decision comes a day after a bomb explosion at a mosque killed prominent religious scholar Mufti Munir Shakir.
In a notification issued on Sunday, Peshawar Deputy Commissioner Sarmad Saleem Akram announced a complete ban on the sale and use of toy guns and firecrackers. Violators will face legal action under Section 188. The ban, which will remain in effect for 30 days, aims to curb any potential disturbances and maintain peace during the Eid celebrations.
The notification emphasized the importance of imposing the ban under Section 144 of the CrPC, ensuring timely enforcement to avoid inconvenience to both authorities and traders. It also stated that the measure is necessary to prevent the nurturing of militant tendencies and to preserve the peaceful atmosphere of the district during the festive period.
The district administration has vowed to take strict action against those involved in selling toy guns.
This decision follows the tragic bomb explosion on Saturday at the entrance of a mosque in Peshawar’s Urmar area, which killed Mufti Shakir, the founder of the banned militant group Lashkar-e-Islam, and injured three others. Shakir had been entering the mosque to offer Asr prayers when the bomb, seemingly aimed at him, detonated.
The three injured—Khushal, Abid, and Said Nabi—were rushed to Lady Reading Hospital, where Mufti Shakir later succumbed to his injuries. Hospital spokesperson Mohammad Asim confirmed Shakir’s death in a video message to the media.
