ISLAMABAD: The capital administration on Thursday banned the launch of housing societies in Islamabad, as well as the display of firearms, wall-chalking, affixing posters, the use of sound systems and loudspeakers and public gatherings of five or more people.

Capital administration officials said the ban was imposed for a two month period by District Magistrate Hamza Shafqaat under Criminal Procedure Code section 144.

The administration has strengthened efforts conducted with the police to counter land-grabbing in the capital, and has banned the launching of housing societies and other related activities in this regard, they added.

A notification stated: “It has been brought to the notice of the district magistrate that some housing societies, trusts, limited companies, groups are operating in the Islamabad in the manner not warranted by the law relating thereto.”

It added the public are lured by advertisements of the launching of housing schemes in newspapers, magazines, brochures and booklets and through local sales.

They invite membership either in excess of the land available to them or without having any land at all, it stated, adding that this practice results in exploitation, fraud, forgery, disputes, offence, law and order problems and litigation.

Speculative transactions also emerge from the situation, jeopardising the public interest and depriving people of their hard-earned money, thereby creating panic and anxiety in society, the notification said.

A two-month ban has been imposed on any sort of publication regarding the launch of any such housing scheme or the sale of plots, inviting applications to deposit membership fees or payment for plots without observing all legal formalities unless prior permission is obtained from the office of the district magistrate.

The administration has also banned the distribution of handbills, pamphlets, wall-chalking, affixing posters on walls and sound system use ahead of Rabiul Awal 12 to maintain peace and law and order during the month, officials said.

They said the ban was imposed as it appeared likely that some sections of the public could hurt the sentiments of various religious sects or segments of society, which could disturb public peace in the city.

The use of cassette players, sound systems and CD or DVD players and other mediums to make objectionable or sectarian speeches and sermons have also been banned.

The use of loudspeakers and sound amplifiers has been banned as this may be a public nuisance or antagonise social groups or religious sectors.

Loudspeakers, sound systems and amplifiers may only be used for Aza’an and Friday sermons, they said.

The display of firearms as a show of force is also banned, as is the sale, purchase and stocking of fire crackers and fireworks.

The district administration has also banned gatherings of five or more people including in the Red Zone, officials said, as it appeared that some segments of society were planning to organise unlawful assemblies, including processions, which could disturb the public peace.

A ban has also been imposed on stone blasting in the Margalla Hills.

Published in Dawn, November 16th, 2018