Punjab to establish anti-drone units across all districts in country first

Move comes amid Section 144 restrictions on drone use, protests following Khamenei's assassination

LAHORE:

In a first for the country, the Punjab government has decided to establish dedicated anti-drone units in every district of the province, marking a significant step towards modernising law enforcement capabilities for aerial surveillance and counter-terrorism.

The newly formed units will conduct aerial surveillance across their respective districts using specialised drone fleets. An anti-drone system equipped with jammers capable of disabling hostile or unauthorised drones will also be deployed.

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Both the anti-drone units and the systems will function under the direct supervision of the respective District Police Officer (DPO), with surveillance drones and equipment allocated according to operational requirements.

The decision was taken in line with modern counter-terrorism requirements and efforts to maintain law and order. Authorities said the move reflects a broader push to strengthen police capacity for aerial surveillance and public safety.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Thursday ordered that an anti-drone unit be made fully operational in the province. Presiding over a meeting of the Provincial Apex Committee, she said anti-drone cells should also be established at the district level.

Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure is already in force across Punjab, prohibiting the flying of outdoor drones. On March 1, the provincial government imposed the restriction for seven days in view of emerging security conditions and credible threat alerts indicating risks to public peace and order.

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Under the order issued under the Code of Criminal Procedure, the government imposed a blanket ban on public drone use, while law enforcement and intelligence agencies remain exempt. Citizens have been urged to comply with the restriction.

The move to establish the anti-drone systems has come amid violent protests that erupted across Pakistan after the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint United States-Israel strike on the Islamic Republic.

Protests broke out in Lahore over Khamenei’s reported assassination, with demonstrators attempting to storm the US Consulate and clashing with police. According to police, protesters gathered outside the Lahore Press Club before marching towards the US Consulate in Lahore to register their protest. Some demonstrators climbed onto the main gate and attempted to set it on fire, prompting law enforcement personnel to fire tear gas to disperse the crowd and prevent them from entering the premises.