Red Zone rally ban extended for six months

The Sindh government has once again declared the Red Zone of the city out of bounds for all kind of demonstrations for another six months. The provincial home secretary issued a notification to this effect on Tuesday banning rallies and demonstrations in the Red Zone for another six months.

Areas and roads falling in District South in and around the Governor House, Chief Minister House, Sindh Assembly, Sindh Secretariat and adjoining neighbourhoods are generally considered the Red Zone of the city.

Interestingly, law enforcers continue to divert to the Karachi Press Club almost all protest rallies heading for sensitive installations in the Red Zone, despite the fact that the KPC is hardly a few furlongs away from the Governor House and Sindh Assembly.

The notification states “the ban under Section 144 CrPC imposed on the protests, demonstrations, rallies, and assembly of more than five persons in sensitive areas/places declared as Red Zone in Karachi Division is hereby extended for a period of 180 days with immediate effect”.