KARACHI: The city administration has imposed a complete ban on all kinds of protests, demonstrations, sit-ins, rallies and assembly of more than five persons within the limits of Karachi division under Section 144 of the criminal procedure code.

Sources said that the ban was imposed by Commissioner Hassan Naqvi on the recommendations of Karachi police chief Javed Odho to avoid a potential breakdown of law and order against the backdrop of the announcement of the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) and civil society organisations regarding holding their separate marches on Sunday (today) at a same location — Teen Talwar in Clifton — over the killing of blasphemy suspect Dr Shahnawaz Kunbhar.

The ban will remain in place till Oct 17.

DIG-South Syed Asad Raza told Dawn on Saturday that organisers of ‘Rawadari March’, an association of civil society, had announced that they would hold a rally against the killing of blasphemy suspect Dr Kumbhar in Mirpurkhas and rise of extremism in Sindh.

Meanwhile, the TLP and other parties have also announced that they would also take out a rally at the same time and same venue.

The DIG said there were apprehensions regarding breakdown of law and order. Therefore, he said that the deputy commissioner of South on Saturday held a meeting with organisers of Rawadari March and tried to persuade them to abandon their plan for the march.

He said one of the organisers of the march, Sindhu Nawaz Ghanghro, told the authorities that they would look into it, but they could not make any such ‘commitment’.

The DIG said they advised the organisers that they did not want to curb the freedom of expression, but there may be certain restrictions on movement of marchers in view of law and order situation.

The police said that in view of the ban under Section 144 of the CrPC, the law enforcers would take strict action if any party or group tried to stage a rally or demonstration anywhere in the city.

Published in Dawn, October 13th, 2024