The Punjab government enacted Section 144 across the province on Tuesday, effective until February 12. The Home Department’s notification cited the vulnerability of political gatherings to potential terrorist acts, prompting the need for increased security measures.
Under Section 144, individuals are prohibited from carrying or displaying firearms, even if possessing a legal license, in the province. This move comes as a preventive measure to address the perceived risk of political events being exploited as “soft targets.”
This decision follows the imposition of Section 144 by the local government in Bannu on Monday, set to remain in effect until February 19. The public in Bannu is restricted from openly carrying firearms and assembling in public without prior authorization from authorities under the provisions of Section 144.
Recent incidents, including the targeting of an independent candidate in Peshawar on January 20 resulting in injuries, and an attack in North Waziristan claiming three lives, underscore the urgency for heightened security measures. In Bannu, a tragic explosion near a police van on January 8 left twenty injured and five policemen martyred, while two policemen lost their lives in a targeted attack on a polio vaccination team on January 9. The imposition of Section 144 aims to mitigate potential risks and ensure a secure environment during the ongoing election period.