Display and use of weapons, riding motorcycles completely prohibited; it is also forbidden to cover the face in public
Police officers inspect the site after terrorist attacks in Quetta on February 1. Photo: Reuters
QUETTA:
The Balochistan government has imposed Section 144 across the province for a month citing heightened security concerns, recent terror attacks and the overall law and order situation.
The decision came into effect immediately and will remain in force from February 1 to the end of February, according to an official notification issued by Balochistan’s Ministry of Interior on Sunday.
The move followed a series of coordinated attacks in several locations in Balochistan that took place a day earlier. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), 92 terrorists were killed as security forces repelled the attacks across the province on Saturday, while 15 security personnel were also martyred in action.
“Indian Sponsored Terrorists Fitna al-Hindustan tried to disrupt peace in Balochistan by carrying out several terrorist activities around Quetta, Mastung, Nushki, Dalbandin, Kharan, Panjgur, Tump, Gwadar and Pasni,” ISPR said in a statement.
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti described the development as a great success. Addressing a press conference today, he said forces remained alert in other parts of the province where incidents later took place, adding that more than 5,800 intelligence-based operations were conducted over a 40-hour period.
During the announcement, the display and use of weapons has been completely prohibited. Brandishing weapons, shooting from the air or carrying weapons in public or private places will be treated as serious offences.
The order also bans riding motorcycles, although authorities said exemptions for women and children are being considered, in line with earlier announcements.
“The movement of vehicles with tinted or black windows has been banned, along with the use of unregistered vehicles and motorcycles. Gatherings of five or more persons, including rallies, processions, protests or public meetings of a political, religious or social nature, have also been banned. Any such activity will require prior approval from the relevant district administration,” it said.
It is forbidden to cover one’s face in public places with masks, mufflers or cloth, except for medical or other legitimate reasons. The notice warned that violators will face strict legal action under Section 188 of the Pakistan Penal Code and other relevant laws, which may include imprisonment of up to six months or fines.
Police, Revenue, Frontier Corps and other law enforcement agencies have been given full authority to enforce the restrictions.
Officials said the measures were essential to protect lives and property, strengthen the ongoing fight against terrorism and prevent untoward incidents. The provincial government has urged citizens across all districts to fully comply with the restrictions and cooperate with authorities to help maintain peace.
Read also: 92 terrorists killed, 15 security personnel martyred
Earlier, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said Pakistan’s findings show “all links point towards India” in the recent attacks across Balochistan, which were claimed by the outlawed Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).
Speaking to reporters in his hometown of Sialkot, Asif said the BLA “is an internationally recognized terrorist organization and banned internationally,” adding that it seeks to maintain its visibility “to get foreign funding from India.” He said the group had carried out attacks on civilians, including kidnappings of civilians and government employees.
He claimed that the outfit had tried to mask its activities by adopting a human rights stance. “They have also worn a veil in the form of human rights activism, a kind of costume in the form of BYC and the missing persons narrative,” he said.
Recalling his previous tenure as defense minister, Asif said he had stated eight years ago that many people described as missing persons were actually members of terrorist organizations such as the BLA.
“They are agents of these terrorist organizations who attack our offices and homes,” he said. According to him, when such persons are killed, they are identified as terrorists while a “false narrative” is created around missing persons.
The BLA claimed responsibility for the attacks in a post on social media, describing them as the second phase of “Operation Heroof”.
Security sources also claimed that Indian media and India-linked social media accounts were reinforcing support for Fitna al Hindustan during the attacks, which they described as part of a coordinated hostile information campaign.
