BAJAUR: The district administration on Sunday imposed a ban on all kinds of public gatherings, hate speech against the state and the display of arms and weapons in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bajaur for 30 days, invoking Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) owing to the prevailing law and order situation.

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

According to a notification seen by Dawn, Deputy Commissioner Adnan Farid Afridi approved the restrictions in view of the prevailing law and order situation, citing the need for additional measures to safeguard public life and property and maintain peace and tranquillity in the district.

The notification further stated that law enforcement agencies and police were required to maintain “extra vigilance” to avert any “unpleasant mishaps,” while also enhancing security at the district’s entry and exit points, and discouraging and disallowing unauthorised gatherings in public places.

“Sufficient grounds exist to believe that immediate preventive measures are required to be taken,” the notification added.

The notification stated that the order would come into force on Sunday (November 15) and remain in effect until December 15, unless modified or withdrawn. It warned that anyone found violating the order would be punished under Section 188 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

In October, authorities banned pillion riding in Bajaur for 10 days, citing the security situation back then as well.

KP has been witnessing terrorist attacks and security challenges for a long time.

According to Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, the country’s security environment continued to show considerable volatility from Oct 30 to Nov 5, 2026, with renewed terrorist activity in parts of KP and the former tribal districts, alongside intensified counterterrorism operations and changing patterns of terrorist violence.