Punjab govt imposes Section 144 in Lahore for six days

In view of a protest demonstration announced by the PTI as part of its strategy to put pressure on the government, the Punjab government on Thursday imposed Section 144 in Lahore with immediate effect for a six-day period, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

As per the notification issued for this purpose, there will be a complete ban on all kinds of public gatherings, sit-ins, protest demonstrations and rallies in the city during the period starting on October 3 and ending on October 8.

In the notification, the provincial government said that the purpose of the imposition of Section 144 on the recommendation of the district administration was to ensure the protection of human lives and properties.

It further said that any public gathering could be a soft target for terrorists.   

Only hours after the imposition of Section 144 in Mianwali on Tuesday, the Punjab government imposed the same section in Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh and Bahawalpur for two days, banning all kinds of public gatherings, sit-ins and demonstrations in these cities with the view to thwart PTI’s plans to hold power shows.   

Due to security threats, any public gathering could be a soft target for terrorists, the Home Department said.

30 PTI workers booked for violating Section 144

Also on Thursday, FIRs were registered under different sections against 30 PTI workers, 15 nominated and 15 unidentified, at Rail Bazaar police station of Faisalabad for violating Section 144 during the party’s protest demonstration on Wednesday.

The FIRs had been registered on the complaint of SHO Qamaruz Zaman.

As many as 15 PTI workers, who had been nominated in these FIRs, had been arrested by the police yesterday.

Reporters: Qaiser Khokhar and Tayyab Maqbool