SOUTH WAZIRISTAN: The administrations of Lower South Waziristan, Upper South Waziristan and Tank have imposed Section 144 in several areas of the three districts for August 10 (Monday), citing security concerns and directing residents to avoid unnecessary movement during the specified hours.

Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) is a legal provision that empowers district administrations to prohibit an assembly of four or more people in an area for a limited period.

The deputy commissioners (DCs) of the three districts issued separate notifications on Sunday evening, imposing restrictions on movement between 6am and 7pm, as well as ordering the closure of markets and business centres in the specified areas.

The administrations of Upper and Lower South Waziristan have also directed motorists to stop their vehicles at least 50 metres before reaching security personnel and for all passengers to get out of the vehicles.

They warned that unauthorised movement or violation of the restrictions would invite action under the law.

According to the notification issued by the Lower South Waziristan administration, a curfew will remain in force in Wana tehsil from 6am to 7pm on Monday. During the curfew, all kinds of movement will remain prohibited, and markets and business centres in certain areas will remain closed.

DC Musarrat Zaman said several important roads and connecting routes in and around Wana would also remain closed to general traffic during the restrictions.

The affected routes include the road from Wana through Tiarza Gate, Karb Kot, Tanai and Azizabad Chowk up to Dargai Bridge. The route from Gul Kuch through Toi Khullah to Tanai has also been included in the restricted areas.

The administration said movement on the affected routes would only be allowed in an emergency and with prior permission from the police or security forces. People travelling for an emergency would be required to produce their national identity cards and other relevant documents to security personnel.

Residents have been directed to follow the instructions of security personnel during the curfew.

Meanwhile, Upper South Waziristan DC Irfan Ali said Section 144 would remain in force in the Sarwekai and Ladha tehsils of Upper South Waziristan from 6am to 7pm on Monday.

All kinds of movement would remain restricted in the notified areas, while markets and business centres would remain closed during the period.

Several major routes in Upper South Waziristan have also been declared out of bounds. These include the route from Ladha through Makeen, Tabai Sar, Bibi Raghzai, Kotkai and Spinkai Raghzai to Nazar Khel.

The route from Dargai Bridge through Medi Jan, Sheen Warsak, Mola Khan Sarai and Chagmalai to Jandola has also been included in the restrictions.

Similarly, the route from Sarwekai through Mola Khan Sarai to Barwand will remain closed to general traffic during the notified period.

The Upper South Waziristan administration said only emergency movement would be permitted on the affected roads and that travellers would have to obtain permission from the police or security forces.

In Tank district, DC Jamshed Khan said Section 144 would be enforced in Jandola subdivision from 6am to 7pm on Monday.

The restrictions would cover Jandola bazaar and other notified areas, where all business centres would remain closed and general movement would be prohibited during the specified hours.

According to the notification issued by the Tank administration, the route from Kour fort through Khargai to Jandola and up to the boundary between Tank district and Upper South Waziristan would remain closed. Jandola bazaar has also been included in the restricted area.

Another affected route runs from Dabra through Kour fort, Gardavi, Gomal Zam Dam and Gulgi Kot to Dabra and up to the boundary between Tank district and Lower South Waziristan. Kor bazaar has also been included in the restrictions.

The three district administrations have appealed to residents, traders, transporters and travellers to avoid unnecessary movement during the specified hours and remain at home unless there is an unavoidable emergency.

The restrictions are expected to affect movement between the three districts, which are geographically connected through several major roads and link routes. The authorities have therefore included some inter-district routes in the notifications to regulate movement during the specified period.

Residents have been urged to plan their travel accordingly and avoid the affected routes on August 10 to prevent inconvenience.

The district administrations of Upper and Lower South Waziristan had also imposed Section 144 in several areas in June due to security concerns and the movement of security forces.

South Waziristan, as well as the rest of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has been facing terrorism for a long time.

According to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), violence linked to terrorist attacks and counter-terrorism operations intensified sharply in July, making it the deadliest month of 2026.