Punjab govt imposes Section 144 across province till Saturday, to recommend ban on TLP

LAHORE: The Punjab government on Thursday imposed Section 144 across the province to ban public gatherings for two days while also saying that it would recommend the Centre to ban the religiopolitical party Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) following its violent protests.
According to a statement issued by the Punjab Home Department, Section 144 was imposed across the province until Saturday, banning all kinds of protests, meetings, processions, rallies, sit-ins, and gatherings.
The development follows a large-scale pre-dawn operation by law enforcement agencies on Monday to dismantle TLP’s protest camp in Muridke, which sparked violent clashes, widespread chaos, and multiple arrests. The party had set out for what it described as a “Gaza solidarity” march, pledging to reach Islamabad and protest outside the US embassy.
As per the official figures, as many as 2,716 people have been arrested after the Muridke operation. Out of these, some 251 were taken into custody by Lahore police and 178 by Sheikhpura police. The government has also barred around 2,800 people from travelling abroad, according to Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry.
Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code is a legal provision that empowers district administrations to prohibit an assembly of four or more people in an area for a limited period.
“A complete, province-wide ban has been imposed on the display of all kinds of weapons, use of loudspeakers, and publication and distribution of inflammatory, hateful or sectarian material,” the statement said.
It added that the government had issued the orders in view of “concerns related to terrorism and public order.”
“The decision to impose Section 144 was taken to maintain law and order, protect human lives and property,” the statement added.
It, however, clarified that the ban will not apply to wedding ceremonies, funerals and burials, and loudspeakers could only be used to deliver Friday sermons and Azaan (call for prayers).
“Those present on official duties, officers and officials are exempt from the ban,” it said, adding that in view of security threats, public processions and sit-ins can be soft targets for terrorists.
Inspector General of Punjab Dr Usman Anwar held a high-level meeting to review the law and order and security situation of the province.
“From tomorrow, no one will be allowed to come on the streets under the guise of a strike and take the law into their own hands,” he said, according to a statement issued by the Punjab Police.
“Protection of lives and property of citizens, observance of law will be ensured at all costs. We will deal with miscreants and rioters with iron hands, and take strict action in case of vandalism and violence,” the statement quoted IG Anwar as saying.
He also added that if cases are registered against someone under the Anti-Terrorism Act for mischief, they will be punished with 10 to 14 years of imprisonment.
“Dozens of miscreants wanted by the Punjab Police under Section 7 of the ATA will be arrested with the help of artificial intelligence-based technology,” he said, per the statement.
The statement further said that 27,000 officers and personnel of the Punjab Police will be deployed on roads, while 12,000 personnel of the Special Branch will catch miscreants.
Meanwhile, videos and images circulating on social media claimed that mosques and seminaries belonging to the TLP were being sealed by the police. Staff Report