Islamabad administration has imposed a two-month ban on loudspeakers, fireworks, public gatherings, weapons display and other activities to maintain law and order.
The Islamabad district government has reported a tough two-month decree of a whole gamut of measures, such as the usage of loudspeakers, fireworks and social meetings. The action is expected to sustain public order, avert sectarian tension and enhance the security within the federal capital. The limitations have been brought into effect by various notifications made by Additional District Magistrate Sahibzada Muhammad Yousaf.
Ban on Loudspeakers and Sound Systems
The use of sound systems and amplifiers and loudspeakers under the new orders has been prohibited in the whole of Islamabad with two exceptions, namely, the call to prayer (Azan) and sermons on Fridays in mosques. This measure will help to prevent the abuse of loudspeaker to transmit hate speech, political messages and content that can provoke sectarian war.
This includes the prohibition of cassetters, CD and DVD devices and any other medium that is used to transmit sectarian, inflammatory or any other offensive speeches. The executives have indicated that they will not tolerate the use of sound equipments to spread messages that are offending to the religious emotions or those that disturb the peace during the enforcement period.
Secondly, the administration has banned the usage of newspaper or rough papers that have Quranic verses in order to wrap goods or pack items. This will be to curb disrespect to holy books and uphold religious peace in the city.
Crackdown on Fireworks, Weapons and Risky Activities
The district administration has in another notification entirely prohibited stocking, sale, purchase and use of crackers and fireworks. The items are normally used in weddings, political rallies and celebrations, but they may hurt people, lead to fires and general nuisance by residents, particularly during the night.
Even the possession or exhibition of guns has been made illegal to all the civilians. Weapons can only be carried by the members of the armed forces as well as the Rangers, police and paramilitary forces when they are on duty. This limitation aims at curbing the chance of armed conflicts, jubilant gunfire and cajoling.
In order to enhance the safety of people living along the water bodies, the administration has prohibited any type of boating in Rawal Dam and Simly Dam. Besides this, sale or unsafe storage of petrol in local agencies has also been banned to minimize the chances of explosion and accidental fires in residential or commercial premises.
Drones (unmanned aerial vehicles or UAVs) have also been limited and so has the extraction of stone through blasting or crushing. The reasons behind these steps are to counter the security threats, safeguard critical infrastructure and reduce noise and dust pollution due to unregulated construction activities.
Restrictions on Gatherings, Propaganda and Hate Material
The district administration has also banned distribution of handbills, pamphlets, posters and wall chalking to offend or attack any religious sect. In the past this kind of material has been regularly used to express sectarian propaganda and confrontation between communities.
All assemblies of five or more people such as processions, rallies and demonstrations have been banned within the revenue boundaries of Islamabad to curb the chances of people mobbing. It implies that the political groups, religious organisations and other entities will not be permitted to conduct any form of open protests or open meetings unless the authorities are notified of such events.
The government is of the opinion that restricting mass gatherings and curbing the spread of hate speech will keep the security state within check particularly when sensitive times or events are on that might otherwise cause an outburst.
Anti-Dengue and Public Health Measures
In addition to the measures that are security-oriented, there are also the notifications about the public health to mitigate the breeding of mosquitoes and prevent diseases like dengue. The government has prohibited the collection of fresh water in scrap yards, construction facilities and open facilities which are under construction where stagnant water serves as breeding places to mosquitoes.
Storing and display of tyres without authorisation has also been criminalized. Tyres that are discarded in the open tend to gather rain water and are reported to be breeding spots of mosquitoes. The administration is hoping that by focusing on these areas of risk, the transmission of the diseases carried by the mosquitoes will be minimized throughout the capital.
How Long the Restrictions Will Remain in Force?
The district administration has affirmed that all these restrictions will take two months to be in effect. Even in the course of this, the enforcers of the law and the local authorities are supposed to strictly enforce the orders and deal with the defaulters.
To the people of Islamabad, the new actions can be deemed as stern, however, according to the officials, it is a step to ensure peace and to protect religious harmony and the health of the people. The citizens are encouraged to collaborate with the administration, to shun prohibited actions and to report any suspicious or criminal platforms, events, or unlawful affairs to the concerned authorities.
These temporary rules allow the city to overcome a delicate phase in the life without any significant security incidents, as well as addressing the issues of health and safety threats that endanger the normal version of everyday life in the federal capital.
