For legislation: Hate speech bill submitted to assembly speaker

Proposal seeks supervisory role for legislators over police in dealing with cases

LAHORE: A draft of the Punjab Prohibition of Hate Speech Bill, 2017 has been prepared for submission in the provincial assembly and submitted to the speaker for consideration.

The bill endorses effective implementation of various laws against hate speech through the provincial government in line with the National Action Plan against publication of material that propagates ‘hatred, decapitation, extremism, sectarianism and intolerance’. The bill also seeks a supervisory role for the Punjab Assembly over police in dealing with cases related to hate speech.

The draft bill was submitted by PML-N MPA Hina Parvez Butt, who was recently elected as the Punjab Youth Parliamentary Caucus general-secretary, along with 11 other MPAs on behalf of the Punjab Assembly Peace Committee.

The Punjab Prohibition of Hate Speech Bill, 2017 proposes developing a manual on definition and intricacies of hate speech containing instructions for citizens on how to register a complaint with police.

The proposed law also seeks reporting line for police officers heading each district to collect quarterly information on the nature and content of hate speech throughout Punjab.

The draft also recommends launch of an online portal for lodging complaints. The online portal would allow a complainant to submit online all accompanying documents relevant to the commission of an offence.

It further suggests designation of one day every year to be observed as a ‘Stop Hate Speech Day’. All the provincial government departments, institutes including schools and the provincial assembly shall mark the day by raising awareness regarding and building capacity towards curtailment of hate speech.

The draft further suggests that it should be mandatory for the Punjab police chief, through the home department, to submit a detailed annual report in the
Punjab Assembly.

The details of number of cases prosecuted under these offences would be submitted in the report. Also the number of successful convictions, the number of cases against members of proscribed organisations or their off-shoots, any other information which the speaker may deem necessary under the provisions of this act would also be part of the report.

The bill draft suggested that the Punjab Police shall initiate an awareness campaign for the citizens regarding the offences listed in the schedule to this act. The Standing Committee on Law and Parliamentary Affairs will prepare literature and reading material in the form of a manual, outlining the broad contours of Hate Speech, along with illustrations and explanations which relates to offence.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 4^th, 2017.