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Pakistan Imposes Curfew in Karachi Amid Mass Protests, Expanding Nationwide Clampdown
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Firstpost•25-09-2026, 17:31
Pakistan Imposes Curfew in Karachi Amid Mass Protests, Expanding Nationwide Clampdown
- •Pakistan has expanded restrictions on public gatherings in Karachi, banning assemblies of more than five people until September 30, ahead of planned opposition protests.
- •The order, issued by Karachi Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi, prohibits protests, demonstrations, sit-ins, rallies, and other public gatherings, with police authorized to register cases against violators.
- •This move is part of a broader security clampdown across Pakistan, including Islamabad, Punjab, and Balochistan, ahead of a September 27 protest by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) seeking Imran Khan's release.
- •Authorities cited concerns over protests blocking major roads, disrupting traffic, restricting hospital access, and raising wider security issues in Karachi, Hyderabad, and Sukkur.
- •The restrictions coincide with Jamaat-e-Islami's (JI) plans to intensify its campaign in Karachi over power outages and fuel prices, while PTI activists and Khan's relatives have been detained nationwide.
Key Questions Answered
Karachi authorities implemented a ban on assemblies of more than five people due to security concerns, major traffic disruptions caused by protests, and a broader security clampdown ahead of planned demonstrations by political groups like PTI and Jamaat-e-Islami.
Authorities in Islamabad deployed roughly 22,000 security personnel, blocked major access routes and highways with shipping containers, and restricted transport links connecting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to the federal capital.
Jamaat-e-Islami is stepping up its campaign to establish protest camps at over 25 locations in Karachi to protest against prolonged power outages blamed on K-Electric, alongside grievances over fuel prices and petroleum levies.
