Section 144 has been imposed across Karachi for two days—December 31 and January 1—banning aerial firing, the use of firecrackers, and the carrying of firearms.
Karachi Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi announced the decision under powers delegated by the Sindh Home Department. “I hereby impose a complete ban on the carrying/display of arms, aerial firing, and the use of firecrackers on New Year’s Eve within Karachi Division for two days, effective from December 31, 2024, to January 1, 2025,” he said.
The ban follows annual incidents where celebratory firing during New Year’s Eve leads to injuries and fatalities despite prior measures by authorities.
Under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), district administrations can impose bans for a specific period, with police tasked with enforcement and registering cases for violations.
The decision to enforce the ban came at the request of the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, South Zone.
![Local residents at the Swat River, which is overflowing due to pre-monsoon heavy rains in the area on the outskirts of Mingora, the main town of Pakistan's Swat Valley [Sherin Zada/AP]](https://mmnews.tv/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Flooding-in-Swat-river-350x250.jpg)
