Punjab govt to ban protests, political gatherings in Lahore for six days

The Punjab government has imposed Section 144 in Lahore after authorizing it in other cities of the province.

The Home Department has issued a notification announcing the implementation of Section 144 in the city for six days from October 3 to October 8.

The notification said that there will be a ban on all kinds of public and political gatherings, sit-ins, meetings, demonstrations, protests and all other such activities within the limits of Lahore for six days.

It further stated that in view of the security threats, any public gathering can be an easy target for terrorists, so the decision to implement Section 144 has been taken on the recommendation of the district administration.

Notably, in the current wake of circumstances, section 144 has also been implemented in Faisalabad, Bahawalpur, Toba Tek Singh, Mianwali, Chiniot and Jhang in other districts of Punjab.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has also called for a protest cum procession at Minar-i-Pakistan Lahore on October 5.

The Punjab government has already tabled an amendment bill in the provincial assembly to allow Section 144-a, a remnant of colonial-era law to ban public gatherings, to be enforced for at least three months.