Section 144 in 5 Punjab districts

LAHORE: The Home Department of Punjab has enforced Section 144 in Dera Ghazi Khan, Layyah, Muzaffargarh, Rajanpur and Kot Addu, banning all political gatherings, sit-ins and rallies for the next three days.

The restriction, effective immediately, will remain in place until October 15 to ensure security, citing concerns that public gatherings could become targets for miscreants.

This move follows the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) announcement of a protest at Islamabad’s D-Chowk on October 15, coinciding with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. Although, the PTI has called off protests in Punjab, the party has demanded the release of its detained members. The enforcement of Section 144 is aimed at maintaining public order and preventing any unrest during this critical period.