Online bikers suffer due to imposition of Section 144 in Punjab

Lahore: Online bikers providing ride-hailing services faced significant disruptions due to Section 144 imposed by the Punjab government on Friday, coinciding with protests called by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Jamat-e-Islami Pakistan (JI) against electricity bills and inflation.

The ban on pillion riding, a consequence of Section 144, rendered bikers unable to work in Lahore and other cities across Punjab. This also affected citizens who rely on these ride-hailing services, leaving many without transportation options.

Naeem Khan from Gulberg Main Market mentioned that his brother couldn't work the entire day due to the restrictions. He urged authorities to consider the livelihood of bike riders when imposing such bans, suggesting they should be exempt from the pillion riding ban. "The authorities must remember that people also work as bike riders and should be exempted from this ban," he said, noting that police constables were actively stopping pillion riders throughout the city.

Bashir Ahmed, a resident of Ishra, shared his frustration, saying, “I tried multiple times to hire a bike ride to Thokhar Niaz Baig but couldn't. The bikers were reluctant to provide services due to fear of police arrest." Another individual in the Anarkali area echoed this sentiment, noting that a bike rider refused to come, citing police actions under Section 144.

Azhar Siddique Advocate criticized the imposition of Section 144, calling it a violation of fundamental rights. "People are just stopped, booked, and harshly treated by the police whenever this section is imposed," he stated. Siddique suggested that if such a ban is necessary, it should be properly regulated to protect fundamental rights. He noted that exemptions are often made for ambulances and women in other instances and that bikers should similarly be exempt to continue supporting their families.

On Thursday, the Punjab Home Department issued a notification imposing a three-day ban on public gatherings, rallies, sit-ins, and protests from July 26 to 28, citing "terrorism threat" concerns. The order stated that the ban aimed to maintain law and order and protect citizens' lives and properties, as public gatherings could be vulnerable to terrorist attacks.

Local authorities were instructed 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.