The city administration has banned public gatherings as it has imposed Section 144 of the CrPC.

The restriction will be in effect from October 13 to 17, with an official notification issued by the Karachi Commissioner.

According to the notification, immediate restrictions have been placed on protests, rallies, and demonstrations in the city.

It was not clear why the order was issued. But Imran Khan’s party has announced its decision to protest at Islamabad’s D-Chowk on October 15—the day the country would host the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in the federal capital—to seek the incarcerated former prime minister’s release.

It has urged supporters to reach Islamabad for protests.

Pakistan is set to host a two-day SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting in Islamabad on October 15 and 16, with leaders from the bloc attending the event.

The SCO, which includes India, China, Russia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, is a significant economic and security bloc that has become one of the largest trans-regional international organizations.

The government has already deployed army troops in the federal capital to maintain order ahead of the SCO summit.