Punjab govt imposes section 144, bans protests and gatherings

LAHORE: The Punjab government has imposed Section 144 across the province, banning all kinds of protests, processions, and similar activities.

The ban will be in effect for two days, from Friday, October 18, to Saturday, October 19, said a notification issued by the home department.

The decision was taken to maintain law and order, safeguard human lives and property, and address potential security threats.

The provincial government has warned that public gatherings could become soft targets for terrorists given the current security situation.

The ban has been imposed in the wake of ongoing protest across the province against the alleged rape of a girl in a private college in Lahore.

Though the Punjab government and police have categorically denied the happening of the rape, students across the province have been protesting on roads, demanding justice for the “victim”, who could not be identified yet.

Meanwhile, a security guard, initially detained on suspicion of sexually assaulting the girl student at Punjab Group of Colleges’ campus in Lahore, has been released after investigators determined that the allegations could not be substantiated.

Police on Thursday confirmed that the guard was taken into custody from Sargodha after accusations of rape were levelled by students. However, following an extensive investigation, authorities concluded that there was insufficient evidence to support the claims, resulting in the guard’s release.