In a significant move to strengthen district-level governance, the Punjab government has restored the authority of deputy commissioners (DCs) to impose Section 144, enabling them to ban public gatherings, rallies, and pillion riding for up to 30 days in their respective districts. This decision, aimed at maintaining law and order, was formalised through an amendment to Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) 1898, recently approved by the provincial assembly.
According to the official gazette notification, the home secretary retains the power to impose Section 144 for up to 90 days in any district or across the province, while the Punjab cabinet can extend this period in case of a serious law and order threat.
Previously, DCs could only request the home secretary to impose restrictions under Section 144. This process originated from changes made during President Pervez Musharraf’s regime when the local government system was introduced. The authority was transferred to district nazims at that time, which limited the direct involvement of DCs in imposing such bans.
With this amendment, the deputy commissioners are now once again empowered to take swift action in response to emerging threats, restoring a measure of local control that was absent for nearly two decades. The move is expected to streamline decision-making at the district level, especially in times of heightened security concerns.