MANSEHRA: The district administration on Saturday banned election-related political gatherings for two months citing the delicate law and order situation and threats to the lives of candidates as reasons.

“The district police officer has reported security environment and threats by terrorists to candidates during the election campaign and seeks an immediate imposition of a ban on public gatherings and meetings,” read a circular issued by deputy commissioner Bilal Shahid Rao.

However, the circular, a copy of which is seen by Dawn, added that public gatherings and corner meetings could be allowed only if the police issued non-objection certificates for them after reviewing the law and order situation in the area where those events were scheduled to take place.

“In light of the current security environment and threats by terrorists to election candidates, I, being the deputy commissioner, imposed a complete ban on election gatherings under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure,” it said.

Section 144 imposed for 60 days

The circular said the ban would be enforced without delay and would remain enforced for the next 60 days with its violators to be punished under Section 188 of PPC.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Peoples Party divisional president Malik Farooq on Saturday claimed that his party would win the majority of national and provincial assembly seats in Hazara division in the Feb 8 elections.

“We have fielded strong candidates across Hazara who will grab most seats in the upcoming elections,” Mr Farooq told a meeting of his party here.

The PPP leader said his party, after coming to power, would address the country’s economic challenges. He said his party’s chairman, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, was the country’s only political leader who could steer the country out of the current economic and political crises.

CRACKDOWN: District police officer Zahoor Babar Afridi on Saturday ordered a crackdown on land grabbers and warned the police officers against supporting those criminals.

Chairing the “monthly crime meeting” here, the DPO said police should crack down on land grabbers and those favouring their unlawful activities.

He said he would take strict action against SHOs if criminals were found present at their police stations.

Mr Afridi ordered SHOs to ensure their presence in the respective police stations for at least two hours daily to hear and address people’s complaints. He said he won’t stand negligence during night patrols by police.

The meeting was attended by the regional police heads, assistant superintendents of police, deputy superintendents of police, investigation officers and SHOs, who highlighted the performance of their respective beats and police stations.

Published in Dawn, January 7th, 2024