3-year jail term for holding public gathering in Islamabad

A bill was tabled in the Senate on Monday proposing a three-year jail term for those holding public gatherings in the federal capital without permission.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Irfan Siddiqui presented the bill in the upper house, aiming to forestall unauthorised political activities in Islamabad. 

The development came at a time when the opposition party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was seeking permission for its rally on September 8.

However, the former ruling party has been attempting to hold a public gathering for weeks against the incarceration of its founder Imran Khan, and inflation.

Under the recently tabled bill, the magistrate will be allowed to grant or deny permission for public gatherings.

“The magistrate can order the police officer to disperse the gatherings, and if the rally could not be ended, the police officer would have the right to use power to implement the order of the magistrate,” stated the bill.

Officer bearers, supporters, and workers could be arrested for violating the law, it added.

The bill also suggested punishment for illegal and unauthorisied public rallies. 

The responsible would be put behind bars for three years, and if they hold a rally for a second time without permission, a 10-year punishment would be given to them 

However, the bill was opposed by PTI, who staged a protest against the move in the Senate.

The bill also restricts the organisers from submitting permission requests at least seven days before the public gathering.

Moreover, the rallies or public gatherings would be held at Islamabad’s Sang Jani and or other places, which would be selected by the government. 

As per the bill, the district magistrate will not be allowed to issue a no-objection certificate (NOC), instead of a recommended location.

The permit will be issued after the security clearance from law enforcement agencies, and it could be "cancelled anytime over security risks, fears of violation of laws, and public disorder". 

The government can term any area of the federal territory as a red zone and high-security zone at times.

However, the Senate Chairman, Yusuf Raza Gillani, resisted the bill and sought a report on the bill within two days.