Karachi and Punjab Enforce Section 144 Amid Security Concerns
The Karachi administration has implemented Section 144 for four days starting October 13 to ensure public safety and maintain order. This decision follows a recommendation from Sindh’s Inspector General of Police, Ghulam Nabi Memon, due to potential threats to peace. The order bans gatherings of five or more people, processions, and public meetings until October 17.
Similarly, the Punjab Home Ministry has imposed Section 144 in five districts—Dera Ghazi Khan, Layyah, Muzzafargarh, Rajanpur, and Kot Addu—for three days, prohibiting political gatherings, sit-ins, and rallies until October 15. These measures aim to prevent large gatherings from becoming targets for miscreants, ensuring public safety during a period of heightened risk.
This series of restrictions coincides with a planned protest by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party at Islamabad’s D-Chowk on October 15, which aligns with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit. The presence of international leaders at the summit has heightened security concerns, prompting authorities to minimize disruption risks from large-scale protests.
Doubts Revealed
Karachi -: Karachi is a large city in Pakistan. It is known for being a major financial and industrial hub.
Punjab -: Punjab is a region that is divided between India and Pakistan. In this context, it refers to the part of Punjab in Pakistan.
Section 144 -: Section 144 is a law in India and Pakistan that allows the government to prohibit gatherings of people in an area to maintain peace and order.
Sindh’s IGP -: IGP stands for Inspector General of Police. Sindh is a province in Pakistan, and the IGP is the top police officer there.
PTI -: PTI stands for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, which is a political party in Pakistan.
SCO Summit -: SCO stands for Shanghai Cooperation Organization. It is a group of countries that work together on political, economic, and security issues. The summit is a meeting of leaders from these countries.
