Section | Pakistan

The Quetta police arrested more than 100 protesters for violating a ban on gatherings, allegedly forcefully shutting down markets and blocking highways, an officer said on Monday. “More than 100 people were arrested under charges of violating Section 144, forcefully shutting down markets and blocking highways,” Quetta Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Muhammad Baloch told Dawn.com. The arrests come as six opposition political parties announced a complete wheel-jam and shutter-down strike across Balochistan today to protest against the suicide bombing that targeted a public meeting of the Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) on Sept 2 and claimed 15 lives. Police in Quetta fired tear gas to disperse protesters and arrested them, AFP reported. AFP pictures showed people blocking roads by placing stones, which they were also pelting, and burning objects. At 12pm, the National Highways and Motorways Police said the N-25 highway near Baleli Custom in Quetta was closed due to a “public protest”. Parts of t...

QUETTA: The Balochistan government has extended Section 144 across the province for an another 15 days, prohibiting pillion riding, wearing masks while riding, and all forms of public gatherings. According to a notification issued by the additional chief secretary home, the restrictions will remain in effect from August 16 to 31 due to the prevailing law and order situation. The order strictly bans gatherings of more than five people, rallies and public assemblies. Meanwhile, citizens have expressed concern that the continued enforcement of Section 144 will further disrupt daily life and cause hardships. Published in Dawn, August 17th, 2025

The district administration has imposed Section 144 in Murree for three days, from August 12 to 14, restricting public access to certain areas, according to an official notification issued on Monday.

Section 144 was imposed across Punjab along with a state of emergency in several districts on Thursday as heavy rains triggered flooding and claimed over 60 lives across the province in the past 24 hours, according to authorities. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Monday issued a warning of torrential rains with wind-thundershowers that would last throughout the country till today. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has forecasted that heavy rains will continue to lash parts of the country over the next 24 hours. Data from the Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) showed that 61 people were killed and 268 injured in the last 24 hours, warning that more monsoon rains were expected in the coming days. An order from the Punjab Home Department said there was a significant increase in the accumulation of rainwater in low-lying areas, streets and open spaces, posing serious risks to the safety of children who often bathed in standing water. “Dams, rivers, canals, ponds,...

The Punjab government has imposed Section 144 across the province from Muharram 1 to 10 to ensure peace and religious harmony. Section 144 is a legal provision of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) that empowers district administrations to prohibit an assembly of four or more people in an area for a limited period. A Punjab Home Department order issued on Friday, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, stated that the section was imposed to prevent “disruption of public peace and instability”, along with ensuring the public’s “safety and security of lives and property”. The notification cited “potential threat to the public peace and tranquillity, religious harmony, and general law and order situation in the province from miscreants, violent extremists, and antisocial elements”. For the first 10 days of Muharram, which is likely to begin on June 27 or 28 in Pakistan, the government has prohibited “innovations of Muharram processions [and] majalis”. It has also banned carrying any article that may be us...

KARACHI: Karachi’s administration has imposed an eight-day ban on visiting coastal areas under Section 144 due to high tides and rough sea conditions, ARY News reported. According to the announcement, the restriction is effective from June 6 to June 13, 2025, and is applied to KANNUP Beach, Sunerah Beach, Mubarak Village, Turtle Beach, and Dua […]

The Punjab Home Department has imposed Section 144 within a 15-kilometre radius of airports and air force bases across the province — from June 5 to 20 — in a bid to ensure flight safety, especially keeping in view the upcoming Eidul Azha. The disposal of meat close to the airports in the aftermath of Eidul Azha — to be celebrated later this week — often attracts birds to the site, posing a serious threat to flight safety, passengers and nearby surroundings. Awareness campaigns have been launched in recent years to avoid the possibility of such incidents. In a notification issued by Punjab’s home department, it was detailed that under Section 144, the following activities will remain banned within a 15-km radius of all airports and airbases: pigeon-flying, fireworks, use of drones and laser lights, and the dumping of sacrificial waste and Sadqa meat. The ban will remain in place till June 20. The banned activities were termed as a “serious threat to flight operations” and the decision has been taken to ensure...

The Punjab Home Department has imposed Section 144 across the province ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, issuing a notification to restrict certain activities from Thursday, June 5 to Wednesday, June 11.

The Deputy Commissioner of Peshawar has enforced Section 144 in several parts of the city for a duration of 60 days to enhance flight safety and protect airspace.

The Commissioner of Karachi has enforced Section 144 across the city for one month to prevent the establishment of illegal animal markets and roadside livestock sales ahead of Eid ul Adha.