BAJAUR: The district administration on Thursday decided that it was mandatory to get the permission of the deputy commissioner to hold public meetings, rallies and processions here.

The decision was made during a meeting of the district intelligence coordination committee here with deputy commissioner Mohammad Anwarul Haq in the chair, according to a statement issued by the DC’s office.

It added that the initiative was taken to ensure the safety and security of the general public by holding all kinds of gatherings, rallies and processions both political and non-political with strict security measures in place.

The participants included Bajaur Scouts commandant Brigadier Rao Imran Sartaj, district police officer Nazeer Khan, additional deputy commissioner (general) Ali Raza, additional deputy commissioner ( finance) Naseer Khan, assistant commissioner of Khar sub-division Mohibullah Khan Yousafzai, assistant commissioner of Nawagai sub-division Adil Ahmad Sattar, and representatives of security agencies.

The meeting was held in the wake of Sunday’s suicide bombing at a JUI-F gathering that left 63 people dead and 123 injured.

It decided that all rallies, processions and gatherings both political and non-political in the district would be allowed to be held only if there were strict security arrangements to ensure the safety and security of people.

The decision was made in the “large public interest,” according to the statement.

It added that all rallies, processions, gatherings and congregations would either be held in public parks and stadiums, on roads and public pathways, or halls, and that their organisers would be required to seek the permissions of the deputy commissioner through written applications prior to those activities under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Administration Act, 2020.

The deputy commissioner will send those applications to the police and other relevant agencies for opinion, according to the statement.

It added that the meeting decided that no gatherings would be allowed anywhere in the district without the prior permission of the deputy commissioner and that strict legal action would be taken against those violating that decision under the Pakistan Penal Code.

During the meeting, Mr Haq directed officials of the district administration, police and security agencies to inform him about the gatherings, rallies and processions being held without his permission for action against their organisers.

Meanwhile, normalcy returned to the district on Thursday, three day after the bombing of the JUI-F gathering. All bazaars, commercial centres and educational institutions both public and private reopened in the day.

Published in Dawn, August 4th, 2023