Pakistan: Section 144 implemented in Karachi and Punjab.

Karachi [Pakistan], October 18: The Karachi administration has implemented Section 144 for two days to maintain law and order in the city, effectively banning all gatherings and rallies, as reported by ARY News.

This ban will be in effect on October 18 and 19, according to the notification issued. The Karachi administration has prohibited gatherings of five or more people, processions, and public meetings during this period to ensure public safety.

Simultaneously, the Punjab government has also imposed Section 144 across the province for two days starting today, October 18. 

According to the notification from the Punjab Home Department, all forms of protests, processions, and public activities have been banned during this timeframe. The government indicated that public gatherings and rallies could potentially become soft targets for terrorist attacks, which led to the implementation of the ban, as reported by ARY News.

The notification also stated that the restriction aims to uphold law and order while ensuring the safety of the public and property.

Previously, the Karachi administration had enforced Section 144 citywide for four days, from October 13, to ensure public safety and maintain order during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit held on October 15-16.

Additionally, the Punjab Home Ministry had previously imposed Section 144 in five districts of Punjab for three days. The districts—Dera Ghazi Khan, Layyah, Muzaffargarh, Rajanpur, and Kot Addu—saw a ban on all political gatherings, sit-ins, and rallies until October 15.

The provincial government cited security concerns as the reason for issuing these restrictions, focusing on preventing large gatherings from becoming targets for miscreants, especially during a period of heightened risk of unrest.