PESHAWAR: The Peshawar district administration on Sunday imposed section 144 banning pillion riding for a month keeping in view the fragile law and order situation and to ensure peaceful holding of the forthcoming local government elections.

According to a statement, Peshawar Deputy Commissioner Riaz Khan Mehsud said that the ban was aimed at maintaining law and order situation in the provincial metropolis. He said that pillion riding, firing in the air, display of weapons and the use of loudspeakers in public gatherings and political rallies was also banned until June 23.

The decision to impose section 144 was taken to avoid any untoward incident during the local government elections which have been scheduled to take place on May 30, he maintained.

Similarly, the district administration asked the police to take strict action against violators of the ban under the relevant laws.

Meanwhile, all the station house officers and sub-divisional police officers have been directed to ensure implementation of the code of conduct in their respective jurisdictions so that the process of local body elections could be completed in a cordial atmosphere.-Bureau Report