Section 144 imposed in Peshawar after ‘credible reports’ of attempts to sabotage law and order

The deputy commissioner of Peshawar has imposed Section 144 in the city for three days till May 3 (Wednesday) to prevent a “breach of peace” after “credible” reports on attempts to “sabotage” the law and order situation emerged.

Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) empowers the district administration to issue orders in the public interest that may place a ban on an activity for a specific period of time.

In a notification dated April 30, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, Peshawar Deputy Commissioner Shah Fahad said that the law enforcement agencies had provided credible information that “non-state actors and miscreants are planning to sabotage the general law and order and peaceful atmosphere in the district”.

“And to prevent a breach of peace, it is imperative to take extraordinary measures in the greater public interest,” he stated.

The deputy commissioner also highlighted that there was an apprehension of miscreants trying to exploit any unlawful gatherings and assemblies “by way of terrorist/militant activity” and lead to a mishap.

“Therefore, I, Shah Fahad […] hereby order and impose a ban on unlawful and unauthorized gathering and assembly of more than five persons within the premises of District Peshawar,” the notification quoted the DC as saying.

It added that anyone found violating the order shall be proceeded against Section 188 of the PPC.

The Section 144 ban is enforced by the police who register cases under Section 188 of the Pakistan Penal Code for violations of the ban. Section 188 carries a maximum penalty of six months in prison or fine or both.

The development comes as the PTI has announced a Labour Day rally in the city today, which will be led by former minister Pervez Khattak.

Rising terrorism

In recent months, Pakistan has been hit by a wave of terrorism, mostly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, since the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) ended its ceasefire with the government in November.

According to a report, January 2023 was the deadliest month since 2018, in which 134 people lost their lives — a 139 per cent spike — and 254 received injuries in at least 44 militant attacks across the country.

Most recently, militants targeted security forces in three overnight attacks in the Lakki Marwat district, triggering shoot-outs in which three soldiers were martyred and seven militants were killed.

The bloodshed came days after the military declared a new offensive against militants amid a resurgence of attacks in recent months, including a Peshawar mosque bombing that killed scores of 100 people in February.