Section 144 imposed in Islamabad ahead of PTI protest plans

Section 144 has been imposed for two months in Islamabad, it emerged on Wednesday, with the district administration warning citizens against participating in any “illegal activity”. The order comes as the Kissan Ittehad and PTI have announced long marches and sit-ins in Islamabad in the coming week. The PTI has announced a long march on Sept 27 to press for the release of its founder, Imran Khan, who is currently incarcerated in Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail. A copy of the order, issued by Islamabad Additional District Magistrate Dr Anam Fatima and dated Sept 18, is available with Dawn. According to the order, Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code has been enforced with immediate effect and “shall remain in force for a period of two months”. The order prohibited gatherings of five or more people, as well as processions, rallies and demonstrations, at any public place within the revenue limits of the district, including the Red Zone. Highlighting that “certain segments of society” were planning to organise “unlawful assemblies”, the order termed it “necessary to control such types of illegal activities which present a threat to public peace, tranquillity and maintenance of law and order”. It added that processions and demonstrations being planned in the territory were likely to threaten public peace, cause annoyance and injury, endanger human life and safety, threaten public property and could lead to a riot in Islamabad. On these grounds, it stated that “immediate prevention and speedy remedy is required” to protect life and property. In a separate statement issued on Wednesday, the district administration said that Section 144 had been enforced in the federal capital. “No gatherings or assemblies of any kind are permitted in the city. Gatherings are also banned under the Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act 2024,” the district administration said. It said that strict legal action will be taken in the event of a violation, adding that violation of the act carried a penalty of three years’ imprisonment. “Citizens are urged not to participate in any illegal activity, and to cooperate with security agencies and demonstrate responsibility,” it added. Preparations in the Rawalpindi Division and the federal capital territory to maintain security and deal with any emergency situation are in full swing in light of the potential long march by the PTI and other protests in Islamabad. Section 144 has also separately been enforced across Punjab for 13 days, in view of “serious threats” to public peace, tranquillity, and the lives and property of citizens across Punjab. The Punjab government has also requested the federal government to deploy Rangers in Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum and Mianwali districts from Sept 22 to Oct 5 to assist the provincial police in maintaining law and order amid the expected protest on Sept 27. In August, the federal government authorised the deployment of three companies of the Pakistan Army in Rawalpindi for six months to perform “sensitive security duties” and respond to any unforeseen situation.

Section 144 has been imposed for two months in Islamabad, it emerged on Wednesday, with the district administration warning citizens against participating in “illegal activities”. The order comes as the Kissan Ittehad and PTI have announced long marches and sit-ins in Islamabad in the coming week. The PTI has announced a long march on Sept 27 to press for the release of its founder, Imran Khan, who is currently incarcerated in Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail. A copy of the order, issued by Islamabad Additional District Magistrate Dr Anam Fatima and dated Sept 18, is available with Dawn. According to the order, Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code has been enforced with immediate effect and “shall remain in force for a period of two months”. The order prohibited gatherings of five or more people, as well as processions, rallies and demonstrations, at any public place within the revenue limits of the district, including the Red Zone. Highlighting that “certain segments of society” were planning to organise “unlawful assemblies”, the order termed it “necessary to control such types of illegal activities which present a threat to public peace, tranquillity and maintenance of law and order”. It added that processions and demonstrations being planned in the territory were likely to threaten public peace, cause annoyance and injury, endanger human life and safety, threaten public property and could lead to a riot in Islamabad. On these grounds, it stated that “immediate prevention and speedy remedy is required” to protect life and property. In a separate statement issued on Wednesday, the district administration said that Section 144 had been enforced in the federal capital. “No gatherings or assemblies of any kind are permitted in the city. Gatherings are also banned under the Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act 2024,” the district administration said. It said that strict legal action will be taken in the event of a violation, adding that violation of the act carried a penalty of three years’ imprisonment. “Citizens are urged not to participate in any illegal activity, and to cooperate with security agencies and demonstrate responsibility,” it added. Preparations in the Rawalpindi Division and the federal capital territory to maintain security and deal with any emergency situation are in full swing in light of the potential long march by the PTI and other protests in Islamabad. Section 144 has also separately been enforced across Punjab for 13 days, in view of “serious threats” to public peace, tranquillity, and the lives and property of citizens across Punjab. The Punjab government has also requested the federal government to deploy Rangers in Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum and Mianwali districts from Sept 22 to Oct 5 to assist the provincial police in maintaining law and order amid the expected protest on Sept 27. In August, the federal government authorised the deployment of three companies of the Pakistan Army in Rawalpindi for six months to perform “sensitive security duties” and respond to any unforeseen situation.

Islamabad administration urges citizens to refrain from unlawful gatherings, cooperate with security institutions