The Punjab Home Department has announced plans to enforce Section 144 across the province from 1st to the 10th of Muharram to maintain law and order.
In a notification issued on Saturday, the department stated that all activities deemed sensitive or potentially provocative will be banned during this period. Special security arrangements will be enforced to prevent sectarian violence.
According to an official spokesperson, no new religious processions or gatherings will be permitted during Muharram. A blanket ban on the public display of weapons and firearms, regardless of licensing, has also been implemented.
Section 144 will prohibit any speeches, slogans, or gestures that may incite religious or sectarian sentiments. This includes statements made through social media, loudspeakers, or printed materials that promote sectarian or racial hatred.
Additionally, pillion riding will be banned across Punjab on the 9th and 10th of Muharram, with exemptions for senior citizens, women, and law enforcement officials.
Authorities have also forbidden the construction of marquees or temporary structures on rooftops along procession routes. The collection or stockpiling of stones, bricks, bottles, or other potentially harmful objects in these areas is prohibited.
“Spectators will not be allowed to gather on rooftops or in front of shops along procession routes,” the spokesperson emphasized.
The public is urged to cooperate with law enforcement agencies, with strict legal action promised against those violating the restrictions. All measures, except for the pillion riding ban, will remain in effect from the 1st to the 10th of Muharram across Punjab.
