ISLAMABAD:
The Ministry of Home Affairs has imposed an immediate nationwide ban on the outdoor flight of drones and quadcopters citing the prevailing security environment and directed provincial authorities to ensure strict enforcement of the order.
In an official notice issued on February 27, the ministry stated that “in light of the prevailing security environment, it has been decided to impose an immediate ban on the outdoor flight of quadcopters/unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), with immediate effect and until further notice”.
The directive applies throughout the country and has been communicated to the Chief Secretaries of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, as well as the Chief Commissioner Islamabad.
The notification further directs that “the Provincial Governments are requested to ensure strict enforcement of the said ban”.
The authorities have been asked to take immediate action against any violation.
According to officials, police and district administrations have been ordered to launch a crackdown on people violating the ban. The ministry also made it clear that drones and quadcopters would not be allowed near sensitive and public installations.
The circular has also been forwarded to Superintendents of Police in all provinces, Additional Chief Secretaries (Home), Secretaries of Home Departments and other relevant security and administrative officials.
Copies of the directive have been sent to DG (Operations and Response Wing), NIFTAC and NACTA headquarters in Islamabad, Prime Minister’s Office (APM Wing), Military Operations Directorate at GHQ Rawalpindi and senior officials of the Ministry of Interior.
The announcement emphasizes that the ban will remain in effect until further orders.
In a related development, a quadcopter drone dropped explosive material on a mosque in Bannu at the time of iftar on Friday night, injuring five worshipers and triggering a security operation in the area.
The attack took place in Mirbaz Barakzai locality of Bannu while congregation members were inside the mosque breaking their fast.
Eyewitnesses said an unidentified quadcopter drone approached from an unknown direction and released explosive material in the mosque area, causing a loud explosion and injuring several people.
The injured were identified as 18-year-old Hameed Nawaz son of Adil Nawaz, 45-year-old Ali Nawaz son of Muhammad Nawaz, 35-year-old Zahir Shah son of Jahan Shah, 15-year-old Sadr Nawaz son of Bakht Nawaz and 35-year-old Nawaz son of Muhammad Nawaz Rashi. All belong to Zonda Ghaibi Mirbaz Barkazai.
Rescue 1122 team reached the spot soon after receiving information about the incident and shifted the injured to District Headquarters Hospital in Bannu.
Hospital sources confirmed that all five injured persons are out of danger and receiving medical treatment.
After the explosion, police and security forces cordoned off the area and collected evidence from the scene.
The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) has launched an investigation against unidentified suspects.
