KARACHI: The Karachi commissioner on Sunday imposed Section 144 in the metropolis till Oct 20 to prevent protests and demonstrations from inconveniencing the public and causing a “deterioration of the law and order situation”.

Section 144 is a provision in the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) which empowers local authorities to ban public gatherings such as rallies, processions and sit-ins, as well as the open display of weapons.

The notification, issued by Karachi Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi, said that it had been reported that protests, demonstrations, sit-ins and rallies were being held on major roads, junctions and roundabouts, causing severe traffic congestion and posing “serious security concerns”.

“Such road blockages are disrupting routine public life, impeding the movement of emergency services and restricting access to hospitals. Accordingly, it has been requested that a ban under Section 144 of the CrPC be imposed on protests, demonstrations, sit-ins, rallies and assemblies of more than five persons within the territorial limits of Karachi Division,” it said.

The notification said that there was “reasonable apprehension” that the holding, organising or facilitating of such gatherings, rallies, protests, demonstrations, processions and assemblies may “obstruct public roads and thoroughfares, disrupt normal civic and commercial activities, cause inconvenience to the general public and traffic congestion, impede access to hospitals, and result in untoward incidents and the deterioration of the law and order situation”.

It said that it was considered “necessary and expedient” to impose preventive restrictions for a specified period to avert any possible untoward incident, maintain public peace and tranquillity, safeguard the lives and property of citizens, ensure public safety and security, and facilitate the uninterrupted movement of the general public and essential services.

Therefore, the Karachi commissioner prohibited holding, organising, convening, facilitating or participating in protests, demonstrations, sit-ins, rallies, processions or other public gatherings involving more than five persons from Oct 11 (Sunday) to Oct 20.