LAHORE: The Punjab Home Department has announced the imposition of Section 144 across the province and Islamabad, banning public gatherings and rallies for three days. The notification, issued on Thursday, stipulates that the ban will be in effect from Friday, July 26, to Sunday, July 28.
According to reports, the measure is intended to maintain law and order and alleviate any potential terrorist threats.
As per the notification, local administrations will enforce the order throughout Punjab and Islamabad.
Under Section 144, gatherings of five or more people are prohibited. Violations of the order could result in legal consequences.
The decision comes ahead of a planned country-wide protest by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led opposition alliance. The PTI declared a nationwide demonstration on Friday to demand the release of ‘innocent’ prisoners, including PTI Chairman Imran Khan.
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Following a meeting of the Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ayen—a PTI-led opposition alliance—former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser told the media that the protests would be ‘peaceful’. He outlined three main demands: addressing soaring inflation, establishing peace, and securing the release of political prisoners detained in ‘fabricated’ cases.
“The current federal government has a fake mandate,” Qaiser added.
