In a move to block PTI protests, the Punjab government has imposed Section 144 across the province.
The Home department issued the notification, announcing the imposition with immediate effect.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) planned to hold protest demonstrations in all over the country on Friday, demanding release of its incarcerated leader Imran Khan.
The notification read that the government in light of the prevailing law and order situation, bans protests and public gatherings.
Section 144 was imposed for seven days, the government said. The section authorised the police to make arrests in case of any gathering or violation of the rules.
The order reads: “It has been observed that in view of the prevailing law and order situation and security threats, any gathering/ assembly is likely to provide soft targets to terrorists and miscreants, which not only pose serious security threats but is also likely to cause threat to public at peace and order as well as inconvenience to public at large. Pressing and adequate grounds exist for proceeding under Section 144 […] as an immediate prevention and speedy remedy to ban forthwith certain activities in Punjab. Assemblies, gatherings, sit-ins, rallies, processions, demonstrations, jalsas, dharnas, protests and other such activities have been prohibited effective immediately.”
