PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed on Saturday put district police on alert for possible violent protests and sabotage in the event of the federal government imposing an emergency in the province, emphasising caution in the use of force.
A notification issued by the IGP’s office outlined guidelines for handling protests and warned that miscreants and anti-state elements could exploit demonstrations to incite violence and carry out sabotage activities.
“To protect lives and property and prevent sabotage during protests, DPOs, sub-divisional police officers and station house officers should personally monitor all protests within their respective jurisdictions,” it said.
The notification said district police must ensure that sufficient personnel were made available to SDPOs and SHOs to maintain order during protests. “The deployment should include anti-riot squads equipped with anti-riot gear, an adequate supply of gas guns and shells checked and verified for use by reserve inspectors or moharrars, special squads of unarmed personnel to identify and apprehend troublemakers and violent protesters, and plainclothes personnel deployed to identify violent protesters, troublemakers and saboteurs. Armed personnel should be deployed only at important or suitable points in extremely urgent situations.”
IGP issues guidelines for handling violent protests, stresses caution in use of force
The police chief directed SHOs to identify vulnerable locations along protest routes and deploy sufficient personnel to protect them.
“Such places may include police stations and police offices, government buildings, petrol stations, banks, shopping centres, important highways/roads and any other sensitive installations,” the notification said.
The notification said DPOs could require protest organisers to obtain a licence for an assembly or protest under Section 84 of the KP Police Act, 2017, or any other law or regulation in force, if they considered a breach of the peace likely.
According to the guidelines, a DPO, SDPO or SHO could stop a procession that violated the conditions of a licence granted under Section 84 of the KP Police Act, 2017, and order it or any assembly violating such conditions to disperse.
“Any procession or assembly, which neglects or refuses to obey any order given Under-Section 85 Sub-Section (I) of Police Act, 2017 or any other law in force shall be deemed an unlawful assembly.”
The notification said DPOs could issue appropriate directions, instructions or guidelines to regulate protests and ensure public safety. In the event of violence, they could also take necessary legal action.
It added that any police officer could temporarily close or regulate a street or public place by erecting barriers or using other means to prevent people or vehicles from entering an area for security reasons, as provided under Section 88 of the KP Police Act, 2017.
According to the notification, during peaceful protests and roadblocks, police should exercise maximum restraint and avoid using force. Protesters should be engaged in negotiations by the senior-most police officer available at the scene, who should try to persuade them to disperse peacefully.
It said to prevent serious disorder, a breach of law or imminent danger to life and property, SDPOs, SHOs or the senior-most officer present at the scene could order the appropriate use of force after assessing the situation and declaring the assembly unlawful.
The notification said the senior-most supervisory police officer during protests would determine the type and extent of force to be used to disperse an unlawful assembly. “When it is required to use force as per law, its application shall be of minimum essential standard,” the notification said.
It emphasised that the use of force should be graduated, starting at the minimum level and increasing only as necessary. In the first phase, violent protesters should be clearly warned before force was used.
According to the notification, if necessary, tear-gas shells or grenades should be used from a safe distance to disperse protesters. Rubber-bullet guns and paper-ball guns could also be used against violent protesters from a safe distance.
“In the second phase, if the situation requires, the violent protesters may be stopped with baton charge by using the anti-riot gear. The special unarmed squad will be activated to apprehend the violent protesters and take appropriate legal action,” it said.
The notification said in cases of extreme violence and an imminent threat to life and property, aerial firing could be conducted by special armed personnel or squads, but only on the directions of the senior-most officer present at the scene.
It added that if a person carried a firearm or any article covered under Section 86(1) of the KP Police Act, 2017, the police could seize it and take legal action against the carrier under Section 148 of the Pakistan Penal Code, the notification said.
“Extreme caution shall be used while using the force against protesters to avert damage to life and property. Anti-riot squad or the personnel entrusted with use of force shall be properly equipped with anti-riot gear to avoid damage/casualties to life of all concerned,” it said.
The notification said the SHO should arrange video recording of the entire protest or procession, preferably through professional cameramen. In the event of a law and order situation, DPOs should ensure briefings, rehearsals and reporting, and issue instructions strictly in accordance with OG-9/2013.
“Prior consultation and coordination should be carried out at all supervisory levels with key stakeholders, including the district administration, law enforcement agencies and other relevant bodies,” it said.
Published in Dawn, October 11th, 2026
