Section 144 Rawalpindi: month-long ban takes effect
Section 144 has been imposed across Rawalpindi district for one month. The order took effect on October 10, 2026, and will remain in force until November 8.
Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner (retd) Captain Nadeem Nasir issued the notification. It cites security concerns and a threat to law and order across the district.
The ban covers public meetings, processions, rallies, sit-ins and protests. Gatherings of five or more people in public places are also prohibited. The notification bars the carrying of weapons, batons and petrol bombs. Pillion riding on motorcycles and the use of loudspeakers are banned as well. Anyone found violating the restrictions will face legal action.
Murree has been brought under the same order, according to Kashmir English. The hill station often serves as a gathering point for political workers, which explains its inclusion in the notification.
The official notice says certain groups are “actively mobilising” to disrupt law and order. This is the reason the district administration has given for the month-long restriction.
Why the Section 144 Rawalpindi order matters now
The timing points to the political pressure building in Punjab. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf launched a protest march from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on October 4, demanding the release of its founder Imran Khan. The convoy, led by K-P Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, reached Mardan on the seventh day of the march and continues to move towards Islamabad.
Rawalpindi is the gateway the march must cross to reach the federal capital. District administrations have used Section 144 in the past to stop political convoys from entering the twin cities. The K-P governor has already warned that the long march will not be allowed past Attock.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police have also issued written operational guidelines for handling riots and protest demonstrations. Under the instructions, elements involved in rioting, vandalism or disrupting law and order will be dealt with strictly under the law. The police say protest demonstrations will be video-recorded to support legal proceedings later.
The Centre has repeatedly asked the PTI to call off the long march and resolve issues through dialogue. A first round of government-opposition talks ended on Saturday without a breakthrough, which makes the next few days critical for both sides.
Punjab-wide restrictions already in force
Rawalpindi is not acting alone. The Punjab Home Department has already imposed Section 144 across the whole province, running from October 6 to October 15. That order was issued under Section 144(6) of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898, which allows a provincial government to extend restrictions beyond what a district officer can impose.
The province-wide ban covers gatherings of five or more people, processions and rallies, as well as the carrying and display of weapons. Weddings, funerals and religious congregations are exempt. The Home Department acted on reports from law enforcement and intelligence agencies about imminent security threats, including possible terrorist attacks on public gatherings.
The first Punjab-wide order ran from September 23 to October 5. The second order followed immediately, so public gatherings have now been restricted in the province for weeks without a break. Rawalpindi’s separate one-month order means the district will stay under restrictions until November 8, well past the province-wide ban’s expiry on October 15.
The PTI convoy leader has promised the march will stay peaceful, but the string of overlapping bans suggests the government is preparing for a confrontation at the capital’s gates.
Frequently asked questions
What is banned under the new Section 144 order in Rawalpindi?
Public meetings, processions, rallies, sit-ins and protests are banned, along with gatherings of five or more people. Carrying weapons, batons and petrol bombs is prohibited. Pillion riding on motorcycles and the use of loudspeakers are also barred.
How long will Section 144 stay in force in Rawalpindi?
The order runs from October 10 to November 8, 2026, a full month. It goes beyond the Punjab-wide Section 144 order, which expires on October 15.
Does the ban apply to Murree as well?
Yes. The notification covers both Rawalpindi district and Murree, according to Kashmir English.
Who issued the Section 144 notification?
The notification was issued by Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner (retd) Captain Nadeem Nasir, citing security concerns and a threat to law and order.
