Section 144 Imposed Across South Waziristan Amid Heightened Security Concerns
Authorities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Upper and Lower South Waziristan districts imposed Section 144 on Monday due to ongoing security concerns and the movement of security forces. The restrictions include prohibitions on public movement in designated sensitive areas and the temporary closure of several key roads to facilitate security operations and logistical convoys. Residents have been urged to comply with the directives for public safety and regional stability, as the region experiences increased security challenges.
The district administrations of Upper South Waziristan and Lower South Waziristan, located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, implemented Section 144 across several areas on Monday. This measure was enacted in response to prevailing security concerns and to ensure the smooth movement of security forces, according to officials.
In Lower South Waziristan, Deputy Commissioner Musarrat Zaman announced that Section 144 would be effective from 6am to 6pm on Monday. Restrictions were enforced on public movement within specific areas, and key routes, including Wana-Tiarza Road, Karab Kot, Azizabad Chowk, Dargai, and the route to Toi Khula Gul Kach, were temporarily closed.
Concurrently, Upper South Waziristan Deputy Commissioner Irfan Ali imposed Section 144 in the subdivisions of Sararogha and Servekai. This order prohibits public movement in certain sensitive zones and has led to the closure of major roads linking Ladha, Makeen, Kotkai, Spinkai Raghzai, and Nazar Khel, among others. These restrictions are intended to facilitate the safe transportation of logistical supplies for security forces operating in the region.
Both district administrations issued public safety advisories. Motorists were instructed to maintain a minimum distance of 50 meters from security force vehicles and to avoid obstructing official convoys. Citizens were cautioned against activities that could compromise security arrangements and encouraged to cooperate fully with security personnel, police, and civil authorities. The public was also asked to rely on verified information from official sources and refrain from spreading rumors.
These restrictions come amidst a reported deterioration of Pakistan’s security situation in May 2026, primarily driven by escalating terrorist violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, according to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS). Counter-terrorism operations have intensified in response to militant attacks. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported on Saturday that 21 terrorists were killed in intelligence-based operations in North Waziristan within 72 hours. Earlier, on June 2, the district administration imposed Section 144 indefinitely in Miranshah subdivision due to security concerns.
Separately, elders in a peace jirga recently voiced alarm over a rise in incidents of kidnapping for ransom, targeted killings, bomb explosions, and other acts of violence in South Waziristan.
According to Dawn Pakistan, the temporary measures are deemed necessary to maintain law and order, ensure public safety, and facilitate ongoing security operations in the region.
