MIRPUR (Kashmir English): Pigeon cages in Mirpur have been banned on rooftops amid security concerns in the region. The Mirpur administration in Azad Jammu and Kashmir announced on Saturday that pigeon cages on rooftops are banned for two months to prevent violent disputes caused by pigeon racing activities in urban areas.
The Mirpur administration in Azad Jammu and Kashmir has enforced a ban on setting up pigeon cages or sheds on the rooftops of homes and commercial buildings in urban areas due to security concerns.
With the arrival of spring, Mirpur Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) has seen a rise in pigeon racing, with young people spending long hours on rooftops caring for their birds. Some occasional disputes originating from these activities advanced into violent confrontations that produced community disturbances.
Multiple conflicts among pigeon racing participants have reached such heights that people started using weapons to injure each other. The district administration implemented procedures to stop further incidents and enforce the management of events after these incidents took place.
District Magistrate Yasir Riaz announced the ban under Section 188 of the Pakistan Penal Code, making it illegal to install pigeon cages, platforms, or enclosures on rooftops across Mirpur.
According to Riaz, young residents often engage in betting on pigeon races, which can lead to serious altercations. He clarified that while the ban will remain in place for two months, it does not prohibit the act of flying pigeons within the city. People are still allowed to keep pigeons inside their homes, but they cannot house them on rooftops.
Following a warning by Riaz, the practice of pigeon racing remains unprohibited, but any participation in gambling activities could lead to severe legal consequences through existing rules.
Additional research indicated that the Punjab Province does not have a broad prohibition on pigeon racing, despite the Mirpur administration’s claims. The Mirpur district officials note that Punjab authorities do not have a provincial-wide pigeon cage restriction; however some cities in the region limit cage installations by the airport and military bases for safety purposes.
