In response to calls for protests by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in a number of Punjabi cities, the government enforced Section 144 and increased security in a number of districts in order to uphold law and order.
The PTI has demanded the release of its leaders who are in detention, which has sparked rallies.
Section 144 has been enforced for two days in a number of divisions, including Bahawalpur, Sahiwal, and Sargodha, in response to the PTI’s call for protest. Public gatherings and protests are prohibited by the curfew, and roads and highways have been blocked with containers to impede traffic.
The main thoroughfares into and out of Bahawalpur were blocked, and containers were positioned at key points including the Empress Bridge that connects Lodhran and Bahawalpur, as well as Qutubpur Toll Plaza and Mewati in Dunyapur.
