Punjab Imposes Section 144 Amid Protests: Roads Sealed, Arrests Continue

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Islamabad/Lahore/Rawalpindi – The Punjab Home Department has imposed Section 144 across the province, banning public gatherings, rallies, and protests for three days, from November 23 to 25. The move comes in response to planned demonstrations by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), prompting widespread road closures, transport shutdowns, and a large-scale security deployment.

Major highways, including motorways connecting Lahore, Islamabad, and Peshawar, have been closed indefinitely. Key access points to Islamabad, such as Faizabad and Tarnol, have been barricaded, while Lahore’s Ring Road will remain off-limits from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM on November 23 and 24. Additionally, public transport hubs in major cities, including Rawalpindi’s Faizabad bus terminal, have been shut down, severely disrupting daily commutes.

The police crackdown on PTI activists has intensified, with over 500 arrests reported in Lahore alone. Authorities have conducted raids on homes, offices, and gathering points to preemptively detain opposition members. Reports indicate that many PTI leaders and workers have gone into hiding to evade arrests.

Security in Islamabad and Rawalpindi has been bolstered with over 30,000 law enforcement personnel, including police, paramilitary forces, and reinforcements from other provinces. Metro bus services in the twin cities have been suspended indefinitely, while rail operations in Karachi have been impacted as additional security personnel are transported to the capital.

PTI has announced plans for a nationwide protest on November 24, with caravans from across Pakistan set to converge on Islamabad. The protest is expected to culminate in a sit-in on November 26. Authorities, however, have vowed to prevent protesters from reaching the capital, arresting participants en route and sealing roads leading to the city.

The situation remains tense as the standoff between the government and opposition intensifies, raising concerns about escalating political instability in Pakistan.