Campaign succeeds as many avoid festive firing on Chand Raat in Peshawar

PESHAWAR: A campaign on the social media succeeded to a greater extent as unlike the past, faithful avoided celebrating arrival of Eidul Fitr through aerial firing. Very few people resorted to aerial firing after the announcement of Eid and sighting of Shawal moon, though the practice had been common in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Fata.

Interestingly, this reduction in festive firing was observed after the launching of a campaign on social media, which bore positive results. Otherwise, the police would have failed to curb aerial firing.

The police in the past had failed to control use of crackers and toy guns. Not only children continued blasting crackers and brandishing toy guns in streets to express joy on Eid day, the sale and purchase of such items continued without any check.

At almost every big or small shop in main bazaars and countryside shops, crackers are available and can be purchased without any fear. The government and police department have been making tall claims of ban on such unhealthy activities but practical steps are rarely taken to discourage them.

More than two dozen people, including small kids, got injured only in Peshawar due to festive firing on Pakistan’s winning of Champions Trophy by defeating arch-rival India. Cases of injuries due to aerial firing were received from other parts of KP. Such firing is common practice on occasions of joy, ignoring the fact that such a celebration by one might cause grief to someone else.

Aerial firing remained a hot topic of discussion for long. The police and administration also used to warn people against the practice but all in vain as hardly any case was registered or violator punished for that. However, the recent campaign on social media proved successful to a greater extent and at least the heavy firing like the previous years was not observed in the provincial capital, though firing and crackers’ blasts were heard in many localities of the city and suburban areas. The drive could be more successful, had the police and law enforcing agencies taken it serious. The menace of aerial firing can be discouraged by constituting village and mohalla committees or through elected councillors.

No doubt, in a situation where mainstream media fail to fulfil their responsibility, social media can play vital role in moulding public opinion through posting of positive messages and launching campaigns to raise awareness and discourage unhealthy practices and traditions. The success of the drive against aerial firing on Chand Raat is the best example and should continue on any festive occasion so that one joy is not turned into mourning for another. If possible, celebrities should be involved to make the effort a success.