Sindh imposes section 144 in Karachi

Amidst a nationwide protest call from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the administration of Karachi has imposed section 144 in the city and banned all types of public gatherings for two days.

A notification issued by Commissioner Karachi Syed Hassan Naqvi stated that the ban will be effective from October 18 to 19, which prohibits public gatherings of five or more people, processions, and public meetings.

The decision aims to maintain the law and order situation in the city during a protest set to be staged by the PTI after Jumma prayers today. 

“On the request of Additional Inspector General Karachi, Javed Alam Odho, Commissioner Karachi has imposed the complete ban on all types of protests, demonstrations, sit-ins, rallies and assemblies of more than five persons in Karachi for two days, with immediate effect,” stated the notification.

The development came after the PTI announced countrywide protests in all big cities on October 18 and 19. 

PTI acting president Punjab, Hammad Azhar, has urged all party leaders, workers and people belonging to all segments of the society to join the protest as “it is the last chance to save Pakistan as well as the supremacy of the constitution.”

On the other hand, Punjab also ordered the closure of all education institutes to maintain the law and order situation in the province.

Previously, the party had called a protest on October 15, but it was postponed at the request of the government, who asked PTI’s bigwigs to defer the demonstration until the SCO summit.