The Punjab government has imposed Section 144 in Rawalpindi district for eight days, prohibiting public gatherings as Pakistan prepares to host the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Islamabad on October 15-16.
Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure allows district administrations to ban assemblies of four or more people in an area for a limited time to maintain law and order and prevent potential disturbances.
To secure the arrival of around 900 delegates for the summit, the government has deployed over 10,000 police and paramilitary personnel. Additionally, Islamabad will observe a three-day holiday to ensure the delegates’ safety.
A notification from the Punjab Home Department, dated October 10, highlights the necessity of enforcing Section 144 to maintain order in the twin cities as foreign dignitaries arrive. The notification specifically bans all political assemblies, gatherings, rallies, protests, and similar activities from October 10 to 17.
Other restrictions include a ban on pillion riding on motorcycles, aerial firing, pigeon flying, and the use of drones or laser lights.
Furthermore, the Islamabad High Court has declared Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday as “closed holidays” for IHC, civil, and session courts.
The provincial government has also prohibited all political assemblies in nine other districts from October 10 to 12, following the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party’s announcement of protests scheduled to start from Multan and Sahiwal. Protests are planned in Gujranwala and Sargodha on October 12, Dera Ghazi Khan on October 13, and Lahore and Faisalabad on October 14.
