KARACHI: The provincial government on Friday decided to impose a province-wide ban on pillion riding for seven days – from 6th to 12th of Muharram-ul-Haram across Sindh including Karachi.

The Sindh government banned the pillion riding on the request of the inspector general of police (IGP). Sindh Home Department has also issued a notification in this regard. According to the notification, the ban will come into place on August 5 and end on August 11 (Muharram 6-12), a notification from the Sindh Home Department said, with some people exempt from the ban.

It will not be applicable to journalists, persons with disabilities, the elderly, women, security institutions personnel and children, the notification read. “The Government of Sindh is satisfied that in order to maintain law and order situation throughout the province of Sindh and to avoid any untoward incident, it is necessary to take immediate measures,” the notification said.

The ban has been placed under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) and action will be taken against violators, the notification warned. The federal government has announced a two-day holiday on account of Ashura (Muharram 9-10 or August 8-9), while banks will also remain closed during the same days.