Drone ban enforced in Abbottabad as security threats rise

Authorities in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s Abbottabad district have imposed a two-month ban on the use of all types of drones, citing heightened national security risks and public safety concerns, officials said on Friday.

The restriction, enforced under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, aims to prevent potential misuse of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that could pose threats to public life, property, or national security, the Deputy Commissioner’s Office said in a statement.

Officials said the measure was taken in response to a 'sensitive' security environment, aiming to prevent aerial surveillance or unauthorized recordings that could be exploited by anti-state elements or miscreants.

“Maintaining law and order is our utmost priority,” the statement said, urging residents to report any suspicious drone activity to local police. Violators of the ban may face legal action, including fines and imprisonment, authorities warned.

The statement comes as the Pakistan Army intercepted and destroyed 77 Israeli-made Harop drones, allegedly sent by India to target civilian and military installations.