The district administration in Islamabad has imposed Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code for two months, prohibiting gatherings of five or more people and banning processions, rallies, and demonstrations. This measure comes amid planned protests by the Kissan Ittehad and PTI, with the latter planning a long march on September 27 to demand the release of Imran Khan from jail. The order aims to maintain law and order and protect public peace, warning citizens against illegal activities and threatening strict legal action for violations.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-23,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On September 18, Section 144 of Pakistan's Criminal Procedure Code was imposed in Islamabad, effective immediately for two months. The order prohibits gatherings of five or more people and any protests towards the capital to prevent unrest. This move came as a response to opposition leader Imran Khan’s planned march to demand his release from jail, where he has been held since 2023 on corruption charges.
Leaders from Khan's party, PTI, had initially announced they would proceed with the nationwide demonstration starting September 27 but later decided to postpone it. On September 29, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi formally announced that PTI’s long march towards Islamabad would now commence on October 4 from Peshawar, instead of the original date.
The government has deployed tens of thousands of police forces and taken other security measures to prevent Khan's supporters from marching into Islamabad. Despite these efforts, PTI leaders argue that their protest is constitutional and peaceful. The postponement appears to be a strategic decision by the party to exhaust the government further or due to logistical challenges posed by road blockades and other preventive measures. Analysts suggest this could still present a significant challenge for Pakistan’s military-backed government, which is already facing criticism over its legitimacy and popularity. The PTI leaders continue to assert their commitment to upholding constitutional rights and demand justice for Imran Khan's release.
Written for “PTI Protest Postponement” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 13 other(s) covering the same event.
Section 144 has been imposed for two months in Islamabad, it emerged on Wednesday, with the district administration warning citizens against participating in “illegal activities”.
asserted
administration → impose → activities
The order comes as the Kissan Ittehad and PTI have announced long marches and sit-ins in Islamabad in the coming week.
asserted
Ittehad → come → week
The PTI has announced a long march on Sept 27 to press for the release of its founder, Imran Khan, who is currently incarcerated in Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail.
asserted
who → announce → jail
A copy of the order, issued by Islamabad Additional District Magistrate Dr Anam Fatima and dated Sept 18, is available with Dawn.
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copy → issue → Dawn
According to the order, Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code has been enforced with immediate effect and “shall remain in force for a period of two months”.
uncertain
Section → accord → months
The order prohibited gatherings of five or more people, as well as processions, rallies and demonstrations, at any public place within the revenue limits of the district, including the Red Zone.
asserted
order → prohibit → Zone
Highlighting that “certain segments of society” were planning to organise “unlawful assemblies”, the order termed it “necessary to control such types of illegal activities which present a threat to public peace, tranquillity and maintenance of law and order”.
asserted
which → highlight → law
It added that processions and demonstrations being planned in the territory were likely to threaten public peace, cause annoyance and injury, endanger human life and safety, threaten public property and could lead to a riot in Islamabad.
uncertain
processions → add → Islamabad
On these grounds, it stated that “immediate prevention and speedy remedy is required” to protect life and property.
asserted
prevention → state → life
In a separate statement issued on Wednesday, the district administration said that Section 144 had been enforced in the federal capital.
“
asserted
Section → issue → capital
No gatherings or assemblies of any kind are permitted in the city.
asserted
gatherings → permit → city
Gatherings are also banned under the Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act 2024,” the district administration said.
asserted
administration → ban → Act
It said that strict legal action will be taken in the event of a violation, adding that violation of the act carried a penalty of three years’ imprisonment.
“Citizens are urged not to participate in any illegal activity, and to cooperate with security agencies and demonstrate responsibility,” it added.
asserted
it → say → responsibility
Preparations in the Rawalpindi Division and the federal capital territory to maintain security and deal with any emergency situation are in full swing in light of the potential long march by the PTI and other protests in Islamabad.
asserted
Preparations → maintain → Islamabad
Section 144 has also separately been enforced across Punjab for 13 days, in view of “serious threats” to public peace, tranquillity, and the lives and property of citizens across Punjab.
asserted
Section → enforce → Punjab
The Punjab government has also requested the federal government to deploy Rangers in Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum and Mianwali districts from Sept 22 to Oct 5 to assist the provincial police in maintaining law and order amid the expected protest on Sept 27.
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government → request → Sept
In August, the federal government authorised the deployment of three companies of the Pakistan Army in Rawalpindi for six months to perform “sensitive security duties” and respond to any unforeseen situation.
asserted
government → authorise → situation
The Aporia
