Section 144 extended as Police conduct flag march in Rawalpindi

WEB DESK: Rawalpindi police conducted a prominent flag march across the garrison city on Sunday to demonstrate their readiness and reaffirm their commitment to maintaining law and order amid heightened security concerns.

The march, which commenced from Police Headquarters, covered major routes including Ammar Chowk, Rawal Road, Shaheen Chowk, Chandni Chowk, Double Road, Faizabad, Committee Chowk, Liaquat Bagh, Peshawar Road, Chohar Chowk, Adiala Road, and several other key areas of the city. Led by SSP Operations Malik Tariq Mehboob, the procession included senior officers such as SSP Investigation, Chief Traffic Officer Farhan Aslam, divisional SPs, SDPOs, SHOs, and other police personnel.

City Police Officer (CPO) Syed Khalid Mahmood Hamdani emphasised that no illegal gatherings would be permitted under the enforced Section 144. “Those involved in violations or acts of mischief will be dealt with an iron hand,” he stated, urging citizens to refrain from participating in any unlawful or disruptive activities. He reiterated that safeguarding the lives and property of citizens remains the police’s foremost priority.

Authorities ban gatherings and inflammatory items amid security alert

A police spokesperson highlighted that comprehensive security arrangements are in place across Rawalpindi, with personnel on high alert. In tandem with the flag march, the district administration extended the imposition of Section 144 for an additional 15 days, effective until 21 February, following recommendations from the District Intelligence Committee (DIC).

Under the extended ban, public gatherings of five or more persons including meetings, processions, sit-ins, assemblies, rallies, and demonstrations are strictly prohibited. The use of loudspeakers, display of firearms, hate speech, inflammatory or controversial speeches, and possession of items such as sticks, slingshots, bearings, or petrol bombs is also banned, and violations will invite strict legal action.

Security measures include the deployment of over 4,300 police personnel across the city, random checks at 82 locations, special pickets at entry and exit points, continuous monitoring via Safe City cameras, and patrols by police mobiles, Elite Force, and Dolphin Force teams. Pillion riding on motorcycles remains prohibited.

The extension of Section 144 and the flag march come against a backdrop of ongoing security alerts in the region, including previous impositions of Section 144 in Rawalpindi and the twin cities, aimed at maintaining public order and preventing potential unrest. Authorities have stressed that these measures are intended to ensure peace and protect public safety.