Karachi police to randomly breath test drivers on New Year's Eve

• Traffic police will randomly check vehicles with breathalyser.
  
• Carrying and display of weapons in Karachi has been banned.
• Sindh IG reviews security situation ahead of the celebratory night.

KARACHI: Additional Inspector General (AIG) Karachi Khadim Hussain Rind on Saturday ordered arresting those driving recklessly or under the influence of alcohol on the New Year’s Eve, The News reported.

Rind ordered Karachi traffic police chief DIG Iqbal Dara to ensure a smooth flow of traffic on New Year's night. Traffic police will randomly check vehicles with breathalyser (alcohol level checking device). Cases will be filed at relevant police stations and the vehicles will be seized, if found drunk driving.

Talking to Geo News today (Sunday), the AIG Karachi has also warned the citizens that charges of attempted murder will be added in the FIRs against those involved in aerial firing on the occasion of New Year's Eve.

On August 14, 2023, during the Independence Day celebrations, at least two people were killed while over 80 were wounded because of aerial firing in different parts of Karachi.

Moreover, a ban has also been imposed on the carrying and display of weapons throughout the city, as well as directives issued for arresting those involved in conducting aerial firing, The News reported.

Meanwhile, Sindh Inspector General Riffat Mukhtar Raja presided over a high-level meeting at the Central Police Office in Karachi to review the security situation ahead of the annual celebratory night.

A strategy was discussed and orders were issued in the meeting about the security. The Sindh police spokesperson said the AIG stressed the need for solid and effective steps at all levels, considering the protection of people’s lives and properties.

The Sindh police chief expressed concern that aerial firing on the arrival of the new year poses a serious threat not only to children but also to other youth and adults, causing severe casualties.

Directives were given to initiate immediate implementation of security measures in connection with New Year’s Eve, including rigorous checks on all internal and external roads, mobile and motorbike patrols, random snap checking, and strict monitoring at entry and exit points in all districts.

The AIG highlighted the importance of strong and successful actions against hooliganism and aerial firing, bringing those involved under the grip of the law.

Rind also stressed conducting search operations, making announcements at markets and through mosques to thwart aerial firing, and promoting positive police actions through social media to counter any negative impact.

The Karachi police chief and all the zonal DIGs, along with district SSPs of Karachi, and other range DIGs and district SSPs participated in the meeting through videoconferencing.

Besides that, South Zone police chief DIG Syed Asad Raza had requested the Sindh government to order a ban on the display of weapons on New Year’s Eve.

A relevant notification issued by the city commissioner reads that the South Zone DIG, through a letter dated December 29, has informed that on New Year’s Eve, a large number of youngsters from different areas of the city would move to Sea View on motorbikes and in cars, which can create traffic jams and inconvenience to area residents.

The notification states that the DIG has requested that a ban under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) be imposed on the carrying and display of arms, aerial firing and the use of firecrackers to safeguard precious lives.