ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Interior approved the “Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Bill 2024” on Tuesday, a measure aimed at establishing the first law in Pakistan to regulate peaceful protests and gatherings. Despite the approval, the bill faced opposition from committee members Senator Faisal Saleem Rehman and Senator Saifullah Abro, both of whom are affiliated with PTI.
The private member bill was introduced by Senators Saleem Mandviwala, Samina Mumtaz Zehri, Irfanul Haque Siddiqui, Syed Faisal Ali Subzwari, and Umer Farooq. They argued that the bill seeks to manage the increasing number of processions in Islamabad, which they claimed were disrupting residents’ lives.
The proposed legislation aims to streamline the process for granting permissions for political and non-political gatherings, designate specific areas for such events, and impose penalties for unauthorized assemblies. Current regulations involve the issuance of NOCs by the administration, but no designated gathering areas exist in Islamabad, leading to significant disruption.
Senator Mandviwala highlighted the frequent disruptions caused by protests, particularly around D-Chowk and Faizabad, impacting daily life and access to major routes. He emphasized the need for a structured approach to prevent regular lockdowns and to streamline the permissions process.
Senator Faisal Sabzwari suggested that the bill should include provisions for religious gatherings, as some unauthorized protests are conducted by religious parties. Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri advocated for a designated gathering space, similar to London’s Hyde Park.
However, Senator Saifullah Abro opposed the bill, arguing that it targeted specific political parties and questioning its intent. He cited the arrest of Senator Mushtaq Ahmed and claimed that existing laws already addressed public protests. Heated arguments erupted during the meeting, with Senator Palwasha Khan intervening to manage the dispute.
In addition to the protest regulation bill, the committee unanimously approved three other bills: “The Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Bill 2024”, “The Prevention of Smuggling of Migrants Bill 2024”, and “The Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Amendment Bill 2024”.
