Balochistan Slaps Section 144, Restricts Movement and Gatherings

QUETTA: The Balochistan government has enforced Section 144 across the province for two weeks, from August 16 to August 31, in response to rising security threats.

The order places a ban on pillion riding, while motorcycle riders are also barred from covering their faces with masks or cloth. In addition, public gatherings of more than five people are prohibited during this period.

Officials say the restrictions are aimed at curbing potential unrest and safeguarding citizens in the wake of a string of violent incidents across the province.

Just days earlier, attacks in Quetta, Khuzdar, and Kalat left four people dead, including a Levies officer and a tribal elder. In another incident, a grenade hurled at security personnel in Quetta’s Killi Zaren area narrowly missed its intended target but killed a motorcyclist and injured another passerby.

Authorities maintain that the temporary measures are necessary to stabilize the situation, though they may cause disruptions to daily life in both urban and rural areas.

Published in Daily Pak, August 16th, 2025