The local administration has imposed section 144 in the Pakistani city of Karachi to stop protests. Under the order, issued on Sunday, the ban will be in force from 11 October to 20 October. The administration said the decision was taken to prevent a deterioration in law and order. The Pakistani news outlet Dawn reported this.
A notification signed by Karachi’s commissioner, Syed Hassan Naqvi, said various protests, sit-ins, processions and rallies on the city’s main roads, intersections and roundabouts are causing severe traffic jams. This has also raised serious concern about public safety.
The notification said normal public life is being disrupted by road blockades. The movement of emergency service vehicles is being obstructed and travel to hospitals is becoming difficult. In this situation a request had been made to ban any kind of gathering of more than five people in the area under Karachi division.
The notification says such gatherings could close roads and public thoroughfares. There is also a risk of disruption to normal civic and commercial activity, more traffic congestion, obstruction of travel to hospitals and a deterioration in law and order.
The administration said the restriction needs to be imposed for a set period to avoid possible untoward incidents, maintain public peace, ensure the safety of citizens’ lives and property and keep emergency service vehicles moving without hindrance.
Under section 144, organising, conducting, assisting or taking part in protests, demonstrations, sit-ins, processions or rallies with more than five people is banned from 11 to 20 October.
Under section 144 of Pakistan’s Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), a local administration can impose a ban on public gatherings, processions, protests and sit-ins. The public display of weapons can also be banned under the section.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report