The Karachi Commissioner on Monday issued an order imposing Section 144 across the city, citing concerns over the prevailing law and order situation, according to an official notification.
This action follows a recommendation made by Karachi South Zone Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Syed Asad Raza on Sunday, just one day before the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) was scheduled to hold a protest at the Karachi Press Club. The protest was organized to condemn the “illegal detention” of BYC leaders Dr. Mahrang Baloch and Bebarg Baloch.
The notification from Karachi Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi stated that, effective immediately for March 24, 2025, Section 144 would be enforced in the Karachi division, imposing a complete ban on protests, demonstrations, sit-ins, rallies, and gatherings of more than five individuals.
In his recommendation, DIG Raza emphasized the necessity of such a ban in light of the current law and order situation in the city. He warned that protests on major roads could lead to significant traffic disruptions and pose serious security risks. The recommendation further stressed the need for measures to ensure the safety of the participants, the public, and the integrity of the event itself.
DIG Raza’s request called for the ban on protests and gatherings of more than five people to be imposed within the South Zone from March 24 to March 31, 2025, under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
The BYC’s protest in Karachi was set to take place at 4pm, with support from civil society groups. A parallel protest was also planned in Quetta for noon. On Saturday, BYC’s chief organizer and 16 other activists were arrested during a sit-in protest at Quetta’s Sariab Road, as part of a police crackdown against their ongoing campaign against enforced disappearances.
