Ban on motorcycle riding draws flak

KABUL): Authorities in central Maidan Wardak province on Wednesday slapped a ban on motorcycle riding, a decision that drew condemnation from the people.

The decision came during a security meeting at the governor’s house, which said the ban was effective as of today (Wednesday). No one was allowed to use motorcycle until further orders.

Acknowledging the ban would create problems for residents, a statement from the governor’s office said motorcycles were being used by the Taliban as part of insurgency-related activities.

It added the ban had been imposed in the larger interest of maintaining security. The meeting was attended by governor’s house officials, security organs heads and ISAF representatives. The statement warned legal action would be taken against violators of the ban.

However, some residents called the decision inappropriate, saying they would confront problems as a result of the restriction. Dweller Qayyum said hundreds of people, who lived away from the provincial capital, arrived on motorcycles to offices, schools and shops.

Such people had to walk for hours reaching their destinations as a result of the ban, he said, insisting the move would not help control the insurgency because the Taliban used motorcycles in areas where the government had no writ.

Another resident, Wahab, believed the government should not take decisions that alienated the people at a time when the country was passing through a sensitive phase.

He recalled such bans had been imposed in the past in Ghazni, Kandahar, Helmand and other provinces, but they had yielded no effect and instead led to worsening of the situation.

The decision should have been taken in consultation with public representatives, religious scholars and influential figures, he concluded.

ma/mud

Visits: 2