QUETTA: The Balochistan government has refused to grant permission to the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) to hold a public meeting scheduled for Friday (today) in Quetta and imposed Section 144 across all 36 districts of the province, including provincial capital Quetta.

PTI’s provincial leadership had announced holding the public meeting at the Railway Hockey Ground in Quetta and had submitted an application to the Deputy Commissioner seeking permission for the event.

However, the Provincial Home Department issued a notification on November 5, stating that under sub-section (6) of Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), a ban has been imposed on display or use of weapons and on gatherings, sit-ins, processions, and rallies comprising five or more persons across Balochistan with immediate effect for a period of 30 days.

Meanwhile, the deputy commissioner Quetta rejected PTI’s application seeking permission to hold the public meeting in the city today, citing security threats.

“There is no permission for any political party to hold public meetings or similar gatherings across the province, as Section 144 has already been imposed by the Provincial Home Department,” officials said.

Officials cite security threats as reason for rejecting request

PTI Balochistan Information Secretary Muhammad Asif Tareen criticised the government’s decision to disallow the party’s peaceful public meeting. He said that the party had duly submitted its application for permission, but the district administration failed to respond in time and then abruptly rejected it.

He termed the decision “unconstitutional and illegal”.

Published in Dawn, November 7th, 2025