Gilgit (PR): Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) Home Department has imposed Section 144 on organizing meetings, processions, gatherings, sit-ins, rallies, demonstrations, and other such protest activities on Karakoram Highway and Skardu Road.
As per the notification issued to the media from the secretary of the interior and prisons G-B, the ban will come into effect immediately and remain in force for the next 30 days.
According to the secretary of the interior and prisons G-B Rana Muhammad Saleem Afzal, given the overall security situation and the wider public interest, the decision has been taken.
The notification further states this decision is being taken in light of the requests made by deputy commissioner Diamer and deputy commissioner Skardu.
In their letters to the home department, both DCs have mentioned the severe anxiety people face due to frequent protest demonstrations on Karakoram Highway and Juglot-Skardu road. Another important consideration behind this step is the decision of the Apex Committee meeting held last month.
Both deputy commissioners have mentioned that people are becoming the victim of severe anxiety due to frequent protest demonstrations and sit-ins on the Karakoram highway and Jaglot-Skardu Road.
Moreover, the continuous sit-ins and protest activities have a caused suspension of communication and severe socio-economic loss for the common people and business community. These protests have led to the creation of a fear of deteriorating peace and order situation in the entire region, states the notification.
The notification further states it was necessary to impose a ban on all kinds of protest activities on the mentioned highway and road given all of the above-mentioned concerns and challenges. Now the ban has come into force and the violators would be dealt with strictly.
