Local authorities in Dera Ismail Khan city of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province have enforced Section 144 due to the current law and order situation. Restrictions on movement have been put in place on various roads and sensitive areas from 6 am to 6 pm, as reported by local media. Passenger vehicles, cargo transport, and motorcycles are prohibited in designated areas during this period.
The district administration’s notification states that Dera-Tank Road and several other roads like Kulachi-Hathala Road, Kot Attal Road, and Garah Abdullah Road will be closed. Additionally, link roads such as Tikwarah-Hathala Road, Pota Badh, Kanori-Garah Mohabbat, Chehkan village to Darbari, and the Pota–Kot Isa Khan link road will also remain shut. The Pota Hathala Bazaar will observe closure during the specified hours.
Emergency services, law enforcement agencies, ambulances, and fire brigade vehicles are exempt from these restrictions, according to the notification. Limited movement may be permitted in emergencies with police or security personnel approval. People are advised to carry identification documents and comply with instructions from law enforcement while traveling on the roads to ensure public safety.
To maintain law and order and ensure public safety in the district, officials have implemented these measures. Section 144 was previously imposed in parts of Dera Ismail Khan on February 28 to prevent untoward incidents and safeguard public safety amid tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The recent hostilities began with Taliban-led Afghan forces retaliating against Pakistani military installations on February 27, following Pakistan’s actions in Afghan territory on February 21, leading to Pakistan launching ‘Operation Ghazab lil-Haq’ (Righteous Fury).
