Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf supporters and party members have been adamant in their mission to remain at D-chowk until Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif resigns from his seat, despite Pakistan Awami Tehreek chairman Tahirul Qadri's decision to withdraw from the sit-in last month.
Their mission now may prove to be more difficult to achieve, however, as the draft legislation -- if passed-- could result in the arrest and imprisonment of any unauthorised individual entering high security zones for up to 10 years, alongside a fine of Rs6,000.
The draft legislation, obtained by Express News, stated that holding rallies and sit-ins in high security areas will not be permissible and will be declared a culpable offence.
One the prime minister approves and signs the draft, the ordinance will be in immediate effect.
Within the draft legislation, the PM house, Supreme Court, Red Zone and the diplomatic enclave have been included in the 'high security' zones. The foreign ministry, judicial colonies, D-chowk and two hotels have also been included in the high security zones.
Under this ordinance, only authorised personnel and government officials would be allowed entry into the high security zones, which would be secured and guarded by police officials and the civil armed forces.
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"and not promulgate ordinances like the Military, I forgot, they were borne by General Zia!!!" This a draft for passage through the legislature and not an ordinance. You should have known better.
A law for the empty chairs yet no action on either the minorities genocide or Thar shows the priority of the govt is not to rule it's to make sure there is no threat to the Kingdom
Lawmakers/lawbreakers should at least give a semblance of concern for the common man instead of the feudal mentality. They should come up with laws that provide speedy justice to all and not promulgate ordinances like the Military,
I forgot, they were borne by General Zia!!!
@salman: No. It is just not only the matter of "empty chairs." But law should have been in place before any dharna took place as the nation should be shielded from making the capital hostage. The need for this should not have evaded the lawmakers and the capital should have Constitutionally been kept immune from being disturbed. But the lawmakers did not have the necessary foresight, not in 1956 and neither in 1973.
@better late than never: Do you mean earlier like in 2012 when PMLN where marching into the red zone?
http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2012/06/12/national/pml-n-marches-on-to-presidency/
PMLN seem to have forgotten that they even did this...
This should have been done much earlier. But it is better late than never.
LOL. By even drafting this law, the govt has proved that they are scared of "empty chairs".
This very basic step will ensure that Pakistan will be more safe and sound if another wanabe stand and call for demonstration in red areas. Red areas are business hub and central power areas, where atleast in country like Pakistan, should be declared as Black zone, where shot at sight order must be given!
Why not shift the capital back to Karachi well outside the city with its own air port accomodating the offices of the central Government, the parliament and the diplomatic corp, far away from the crowded city and madding crowd of Imran Khan.
Rex Minor
i will be damn. Thais the lowest pml(N) will go. or wait they must surprise us with something even lower than that.
Do these lawmakers lack basic thinking? Such things only tend to produce hardliners and vindicates the stance of people like Imran Khan. No more Badshah Salamat! Another brick in the VIP wall.