The Punjab government imposed Section 144(6) in Faisalabad, Bahawalpur, and Mianwali on Tuesday, banning all forms of public gatherings in response to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party’s planned rally in southern Punjab.
PTI has been conducting numerous protests nationwide, demanding action against the “unlawful” detention of its founder, addressing delays by the Election Commission of Pakistan in implementing a Supreme Court ruling on reserved seats, and advocating for constitutional rights.
Each rally has prompted the government to issue strict regulations, resulting in clashes between PTI supporters and law enforcement. Imprisoned PTI leader Imran Khan has called for nationwide demonstrations to ensure the “independence of the judiciary,” including protests in Islamabad, where such gatherings are prohibited.
Separately, PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram announced large protests scheduled for October 2 in Multan, Mianwali, and Faisalabad. He urged supporters to participate, stating, “It is your duty to come out.”
Notifications from the Punjab Interior Ministry highlighted concerns that PTI’s planned rallies could be exploited by “terrorists” to engage in subversive activities, citing multiple threat alerts. The notifications emphasized that the current law and order situation presents a “soft target” for miscreants, posing a “serious security threat.”
As a result, the government found sufficient grounds to implement Section 144 to maintain public peace and ensure the safety of lives and property. The ban on political assemblies, gatherings, sit-ins, rallies, demonstrations, and similar activities will remain in effect for two days in Faisalabad and Bahawalpur, while Mianwali will see the restrictions imposed for seven days.
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