ISLAMABAD:
The Ministry of Home Affairs has imposed an immediate nationwide ban on outdoor flying of drones and quadcopters, citing the prevailing security environment, and directed provincial authorities to ensure strict compliance with the order.
In an official notification issued on February 27, the ministry said, “In view of the prevailing security environment, it has been decided to impose an immediate ban on open-air flying of quadcopters/unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), with immediate effect and until further orders.”
The directive is applicable across the country and has been communicated to the chief secretaries of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan as well as chief commissioner Islamabad.
The notification further states that “provincial governments are requested to ensure strict implementation of the said ban.”
Authorities have been ordered to take immediate action against any violation.
According to officials, the police and district administrations have been ordered to launch a crackdown against people violating the ban. The ministry also made it clear that drones and quadcopters would not be allowed near public and sensitive facilities.
The circular has also been issued to inspector generals of police of all provinces, additional chief secretaries (Home), secretaries of home departments and other relevant administrative and security officials.
Copies of the directive have been sent to the DG (Operations and Response Wing), NIFTAC and NACTA headquarters in Islamabad, Prime Minister’s Office (APM Wing), Directorate of Military Operations at Headquarters Rawalpindi and senior officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The notification emphasizes that the ban will remain in force until further orders.
In a related development, a quadcopter drone dropped explosive material on a mosque in Bannu at iftar time on Friday afternoon, injuring five worshipers and triggering a security operation in the area.
The attack occurred in the town of Bannu, Mirbaz Barakzai, while worshipers were inside the mosque breaking their fast.
Eyewitnesses said that an unidentified quadcopter drone approached from an unknown direction and dropped explosive material inside the mosque compound, causing a loud explosion and injuring several people.
The injured were identified as Hameed Nawaz, 18, son of Adil Nawaz, Ali Nawaz, 45, son of Muhammad Nawaz, Zahir Shah, 35, son of Jahan Shah, Sadr Nawaz, 15, son of Bakht Nawaz, and Rashid Nawaz, 35, son of Muhammad Nawaz. They all belong to Zonda Ghaibi Mirbaz Barkazai.
The 1122 rescue teams reached the spot soon after receiving information about the incident and shifted the injured to the district central hospital in Bannu.
Hospital sources confirmed that the five injured are out of danger and receiving medical treatment.
After the explosion, police and security forces cordoned off the area and collected evidence from the scene.
The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) has launched an investigation against unidentified suspects.
