LAHORE: The Punjab government on Tuesday extended Section 144 across the province for 10 days until October 15 amid threats of terrorist activities, according to a notification issued by the provincial home department.
The development comes as the previous 13-day period expired on Oct 5. The restrictions have been in place across Punjab since September.
According to a notification issued by the Punjab Home Department on Oct 6, a copy of which is available with media, the restrictions will remain in force for 10 days from the date of issuance unless modified or withdrawn earlier.
The notification outlined the restrictions as follows:
- Assemblies, processions and gatherings of five or more people have been banned in any public place, street, road, highway, motorway or open space.
- Inciting people to participate in an unlawful assembly has also been prohibited.
- The carrying, display or brandishing of all kinds of weapons in public places was banned as well, except law enforcement, intelligence, and security agencies performing official duties.
The ban on gatherings is not applicable to marriage ceremonies, funeral prayers, burial gatherings and prayers in mosques and churches, official duties of government or semi-government organisations, courts of law and other events permitted by the deputy commissioner concerned under Section 16 of the Punjab Civil Administration Act, 2017.
The notification cited “credible reports” indicating “a serious and imminent threat to public peace, tranquillity and the safety of life and property across Punjab from terrorist organisations and hostile intelligence agencies”.
It said multiple “threat alerts” had been received regarding possible terrorist activities being planned by hostile agencies, involving suicide bombers, vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices and target killings during large public gatherings.
“Such activities could create mayhem and social unrest and disrupt public peace and tranquillity,” the notification read.
“Assemblies of people, rallies, gatherings, sit-ins, processions, demonstrations and jalsas could present potential targets for terrorist attacks, and the possibility of an untoward incident or act of terrorism could not be ruled out during such activities,” it added.
The notification further said there was also strong apprehension that certain elements could engage in activities likely to result in assemblies of people, making them easy targets for hostile activity by terrorists or terrorist organisations.
The development comes amid PTI’s long march, which the party went ahead with despite warnings from the Centre. The protest aims to demand the release of jailed party founder and former prime minister Imran Khan.
Ahead of the protest, similar restrictions have been imposed in other parts of the country recently. Section 144 was also imposed in Karachi last month, with authorities banning gatherings of more than five people in the city until Sept 30.
Movement on several roads in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Dera Ismail Khan, Upper and Lower South Waziristan, Tank and Hangu was also restricted under Section 144 for varying periods.
A similar ban was imposed in Islamabad for two months, while gatherings in the federal capital are also banned under the Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act 2024, which had been rushed through the National Assembly.
The Balochistan government has also imposed Section 144 throughout the province for 30 days, citing reports indicating the likelihood of activities and gatherings that could adversely affect law and order and the safety and security of the public.
