Section 144 enforced in Dera Ismail Khan amid heightened security concerns

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: The district administration of Dera Ismail Khan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has imposed Section 144 in response to the current law and order situation, according to an official notification issued on Monday.

Deputy Commissioner Abdul Nasir Khan announced that the restrictions will be in effect from 6am to 6pm. During these hours, the movement of passenger vehicles, cargo transport, and motorcycles will be strictly prohibited in designated areas.

The official notification specifies that the Dera-Tank Road, stretching from Tariq Shaheed to Bhugowal, will remain closed. In addition, several other main roads, including Kulachi-Hathala Road, Kot Attal Road, and Garah Abdullah Road, will also be shut to all traffic during the restriction period.

Authorities further stated that a number of link roads will be affected by the order. These include Tikwarah-Hathala Road, Pota Badh, Kanori-Garah Mohabbat, Chehkan village to Darbari, and the Pota–Kot Isa Khan link road, all of which will remain inaccessible from 6am to 6pm.

The administration has also directed the closure of police and security check-posts in the restricted areas as part of the security measures.

Officials have explained that these steps have been taken to address the prevailing security concerns in the district and to maintain public safety. The notification did not specify the duration for which Section 144 will remain in force beyond the daily timings, nor did it detail the specific nature of the security threats prompting these measures.

Residents and commuters have been advised to avoid the restricted areas and to cooperate with authorities during the enforcement period. The district administration has emphasized that the restrictions are temporary and aimed at ensuring the safety and security of the public.