Will the PTI defy Section 144?
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ISLAMABAD: The federal government posed a challenging question to the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) on Friday by imposing Section 144 in Islamabad.
Under this section, the administration has prohibited "all kinds of gatherings of five or more persons, processions/rallies and demonstrations at any public place".
According to the notifications issued by Deputy Commissioner Mujahid Sherdil, copies of which are available with Dawn, the city administration has also prohibited the carrying of firearms by ordinary citizens, the use of loudspeakers and sound amplifiers (except for call for prayers and sermons for Friday prayers), the stock, sale, purchase and use of fire crackers and the distribution of hand-bills, pamphlets, affixing of posters and wall-chalking.
The notifications from the Deputy Commissioner Islamabad comes as the PTI gears up for its ‘Azadi’ March on August 14 to protest alleged rigging in the 2013 general elections and to press for electoral reforms.
According to notifications by the Deputy Commissioner's office, Section 144 will be in place in the federal capital for the next two months.
[Azadi] march madness: 6 days to go
The Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) led federal government is bracing for a wave of protests this month, days after it invoked Article 245 of the Constitution and gave the military responsibility for securing the capital amid the spectre of a political showdown.
The army is however not bound to act in aid of the Islamabad police in the enforcement of this section unless Chief Commissioner Islamabad orders them to do so.
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On DawnNews
Comments (40) Closed
Aug 08, 2014 03:11pm
Fortunately, Yes. Since these articles are not effective in the democrazy
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Aug 08, 2014 03:19pm
You bet, all the way to Islamabad, we are committed and resolute!
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Aug 08, 2014 03:20pm
Awami sec 144 - gathering of no more than 5 Policemen.
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Aug 08, 2014 03:21pm
Will this section be applicable on the flag hoisting and Army march past ceremonies? There will definitely be more than 5 people there
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Aug 08, 2014 03:26pm
Section 144 was a British way of curbing popular movements in Colonial India, it is not effective in letter & spirit these days, its a Law for slaves not for Independent Nations.
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Aug 08, 2014 03:37pm
Worst Dictatorship in Countries History!
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Aug 08, 2014 03:37pm
To preserve democracy there should not be Section 144 in the first place. Imposition of this section is undemocratic and a violation of ordinary person's basic human rights. Sharif Brothers should be aware of it.
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Aug 08, 2014 03:40pm
The PML-N government is now losing ground and getting edgy, to say the least. They are emitting obvious signals to PTI and PAT that they (PML-N) are fearing them.
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Aug 08, 2014 03:41pm
PTI should be facilitated to protest peacefully if Imran Khan gives assurance to avoid destruction and ensure not to disrupt patients and students.
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Aug 08, 2014 03:45pm
@Sarmad Made me laugh...
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Aug 08, 2014 03:47pm
Qadri drama and the next episode. Now people like us will have to tolerate him and his likes shrieking at the top of their voices, frothing at their mouths because unfortunately they think in democracy they have more rights than us, the silent majority, who do not want disruption but want things to evolve with time. they don't have the patience for that.
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Aug 08, 2014 03:57pm
Oh my God these guys are scared. WOW. IK has made a point without even doing a rally. I hope the people of Pakistan see the democrazy they are having.
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Aug 08, 2014 04:05pm
Reminds me of Musharaf era, when he imposed section 144 in the capital before the lawyers march in 2009. As a resident of Islamabad, it was the first time I was scared to go out expecting anything. It was also the first time I decided to take the roads to protest for my rights.
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Aug 08, 2014 04:10pm
@Aurang
You are absolutely right as PMLn workers and Gull Butts are disguised in police uniform.
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Aug 08, 2014 04:11pm
Section 144 , a last nail on the coffin of PML-N
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Aug 08, 2014 04:13pm
Only in Pakistan does the media (I'm pointing my finger at Dawn) suggest breaking the law! As poor as our leaders are, the intellectual powerhouses are just as dumb. Is there no one in the entire country that has a sense of rules, regulations, rights? Are we being led by the most intellectually corrupt leaders?
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Aug 08, 2014 04:17pm
Unbelievable. Reading news is like watching a Thrilling movies these days. Never been entertained so much before.Looking forward for the climax on 14th August. No one is interested in the sacrifices of the thousands of lives lost on this in 1947.
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Aug 08, 2014 04:18pm
Funny, suddenly all the rules and regulations apply to PTI, as if no one has ever broken a law in Pakistan before. DAWN's sleepy editors don't like the boat rocking. The boat shall rock, you bet.
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Aug 08, 2014 04:51pm
Government must take strict measures and must not bow to the long marches otherwise,on every slight pretext these pseudo,foreign funded leaders will not let any government work for more than two years.
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Aug 08, 2014 05:06pm
So Nawaz Sharif's convoy will from now on be limited to 5 people
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Aug 08, 2014 05:09pm
Nothing will work at all even they impose curfew. These cowards has to face the music. In 2009 it was justified for PML(N) for others ?
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Aug 08, 2014 05:22pm
If this government cannot handle a march from a political party, which is within the constitutional limits, how can it be expected to handle much bigger issues? The answer is simple that this spineless and corrupt government led by the crooks is incapable of handling anything.
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Aug 08, 2014 05:35pm
Bad move. The PTI march did not need any more excuses for failure.
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Aug 08, 2014 07:14pm
@Sarmad now this is a good question indeed. This is the right way to criticize govt decisions. I wish IK had protested for things like, when govt increased import duty on solar panels and equipment. We want opposition to give hard time for the sake of improvement, not just stupidly engage in power hungry politics.
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Aug 08, 2014 07:17pm
The government is incompetent. In a democracy protests are a legitimate right. What is the big deal.
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Aug 08, 2014 07:43pm
We don't want the thugs to be our beloved city Islamabad ransacking and polluting our streets.
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Aug 08, 2014 07:44pm
Keep on going Imran Khan, the brave Pakistani nation is behind you. You have support of expatriate Pakiatanis where ever in the world they are. Thank you IK to help us get rid of Sharifs, Zardari's, Bhuttos, Choudhrys and above all the stinking dynasty politics.
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Aug 08, 2014 08:19pm
@Arif Aslam Khan
Very true description. .
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Aug 08, 2014 08:52pm
@Sarmad This Govt. do and then think. Normally it should be applicable to independence day celebrations, you cannot lift section 144 for a few hours, unless this smart Govt. thinks that way. This is one of the actions to cancel the parade.
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Aug 08, 2014 10:19pm
@Merchant I fully support your post. Will a day come in our life when all these surrogates behind the bar or extinguish from the surface of the earth
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Aug 08, 2014 10:26pm
Sharif's are prooving themselves as true sons of Zia ul Haq.
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Aug 08, 2014 10:48pm
we will break 144 as we come to cAPITAL IN THAT WAY 1person in road left 4 in mid and 4 in other side of road cus in 144 5 or above person cant gather at a time.
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Aug 09, 2014 01:12am
It is on, you so-called Sharifs.
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Aug 09, 2014 01:38am
@Ateeq because that is what they are.
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Aug 09, 2014 03:27am
Since the present PMN-L government and Assembly Members have been elected through massive rigging in the general election therefore they do not have any legal and moral authority, there directives are illegal and should be ignored.
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Aug 09, 2014 04:55am
For those old enough to remember ... THIS is how the downfall of FM Ayub Khan began. Decade of progress, followed by 144 etc. I so hope the Army stays OUT, actually they should REFUSE to follow 245, and STAY in their barracks. Police should NOT TAKE orders from political leaders. Law and Order is the responsibility of the bureaucrats.
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Aug 09, 2014 06:25am
inqilaab e pakistan e zindabade
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Aug 09, 2014 07:49am
245, 144, What next? 111?
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Aug 09, 2014 05:47pm
@Arif Aslam Khan That's what PMLN is proving and that's why we r going to win back our independence
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Aug 11, 2014 07:33pm
@Sarmad Next number in sequence is 43. Wonder is there any such clause? hahaha
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