The Islamabad administration has imposed a ban on public gatherings, six days before Imran Khan’s PTI protest scheduled to be held in the federal capital.
Section 144, a legal provision allowing district administrations to ban gatherings of four or more people for a specified time, remains in effect as tensions escalate.
Last week, several top PTI leaders were detained outside the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi for violating this order but were released shortly after receiving warnings from the police.
Incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan has issued a “final call” for nationwide protests on November 24. Khan urged widespread participation from the legal community, civil society, and supporters abroad, labelling the upcoming protests as a crucial test for PTI’s resilience and unity.
Section 144 has been enforced in Islamabad in response to concerns over “certain segments of society” planning unlawful assemblies that could disrupt public peace.
The new regulations prohibit public gatherings of five or more people, citing potential risks of public disorder, annoyance, injury, and threats to human life and property. Authorities are especially wary of gatherings that could incite riots or sectarian violence within the district.
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Additionally, the use of sound systems for “objectionable or sectarian” speeches has been banned, along with the use of loudspeakers to provoke political, social, or religious groups.
The district magistrate has also prohibited firecrackers, the display of firearms by anyone other than law enforcement, and the distribution of leaflets, pamphlets, or the posting of posters under the provisions of Section 144. Such measures aim to maintain order and safety in the capital amid rising tensions.
