Citizens demand the authorities concerned to grant exemption to bike riders
LAHORE: (UrduPoint/Pakistan Point News-July 26th, 2024) Online bike riders offering ride-hailing services experienced major disruptions on Friday due to the enforcement of Section 144 by the Punjab government.
This action coincided with protests organized by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Jamat-e-Islami Pakistan (JI) against rising electricity bills and inflation.
The restriction on pillion riding, a component of Section 144, prevented many bikers from operating in Lahore and other cities in Punjab, impacting citizens who rely on these services for transportation.
Muhammad Azeem from Gulberg Main Market reported that his brother couldn't work all day because of the ban. He called on authorities to consider the livelihoods of bike riders when enforcing such restrictions, suggesting they should be exempt from the pillion riding prohibition. "Authorities must recognize that many people work as bike riders and should be exempted from this ban," he said, pointing out that police were actively stopping pillion riders throughout the city.
Naseer Khan from Chungi Amer Sidhu shared a similar experience, saying, "I tried multiple times to hire a bike ride to Thokhar Niaz Baig but couldn't. Bikers were hesitant to provide services due to fear of police arrest." Another person in the Anarkali area noted that a bike rider declined to come, citing police enforcement under Section 144.
Advocate Azhar Siddique condemned the imposition of Section 144, arguing it violated fundamental rights. "People are just stopped, booked, and harshly treated by the police whenever this section is enforced,” he said.
Siddique proposed that if such a ban is deemed necessary, it should be regulated properly to protect fundamental rights. He pointed out that exemptions are often made for ambulances and women, and similarly, bikers should be exempt to allow them to support their families.
On Thursday, the Punjab Home Department issued a notification implementing a three-day ban on public gatherings, rallies, sit-ins, and protests from July 26 to 28, citing concerns of a “terrorism threat”.
The order stated that the ban aimed to maintain law and order and protect citizens' lives and properties, as public gatherings could be potential targets for terrorists.
The local authorities were directed to enforce the order strictly. Earlier in the week, similar restrictions were in place under Section 144 from July 21 to 27 due to security concerns.
The Home Department emphasized that public gatherings could be targeted by terrorists and miscreants, posing a serious threat to law and order.
