Authorities impose Section 144 in Karachi, ban gatherings of more than 5 people till Oct 20

Authorities impose Section 144 in Karachi, ban gatherings of more than 5 individuals till Oct 20.

Key points

• Imtiaz Ali Published October 12, 2026 Updated October 12, 2026 12: 32am.
• Imtiaz Ali is a Karachi-based reporter for Dawn with over 25 years of experience in the field.
• Such road blockages are disrupting routine public life, impeding the movement of emergency services and restricting access to hospitals.

Imtiaz Ali Published October 12, 2026 Updated October 12, 2026 12: 32am. Join our Whatsapp Channel.

KARACHI: The Karachi commissioner on Sunday imposed Section 144 in the metropolis till Oct 20 to prevent protests and demonstrations from inconveniencing the public and causing a "deterioration of the law and order situation".

As well as the open display of weapons, section 144 is a provision in the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) which empowers local authorities to ban public gatherings such as rallies, processions and sit-ins.

For context, the notification, issued by Karachi Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi, remarked that it had been noted that protests, demonstrations, sit-ins and rallies were being held on major roads, junctions and roundabouts, causing severe traffic congestion and posing "serious security concerns".

"Such road blockages are disrupting routine public life, impeding the movement of emergency services and restricting access to hospitals. Accordingly, it has been requested that a ban under Section 144 of the CrPC be imposed on protests, demonstrations, sit-ins, rallies and assemblies of more than five persons within the territorial limits of Karachi Division, " it remarked.

According to The notification, there was "reasonable apprehension" that the holding, organising or facilitating of such gatherings, rallies, protests, demonstrations, processions and assemblies may "obstruct public roads and thoroughfares, disrupt normal civic and commercial activities, cause inconvenience to the general public and traffic congestion, impede access to hospitals, and result in untoward incidents and the deterioration of the law and order situation".

It remarked that it was considered "necessary and expedient" to impose preventive restrictions for a specified period to avert any feasible untoward incident, maintain public peace and tranquillity, safeguard the lives and property of citizens, ensure public safety and security, and facilitate the uninterrupted movement of the general public and essential services.

Therefore, the Karachi commissioner prohibited holding, organising, convening, facilitating or participating in protests, demonstrations, sit-ins, rallies, processions or other public gatherings involving more than five persons from Oct 11 (Sunday) to Oct 20.

Imtiaz Ali is a Karachi-based reporter for Dawn with over 25 years of experience in the field. His reporting portfolio encompasses crime, politics, and the provincial legislature, alongside coverage of the courts, administration affairs, and the health sector.

For now, authorities impose Section 144 in Karachi, ban gatherings of more than 5 remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.