Proposed ordinance: Govt eyes legal curbs on federal capital protests
The ordinance will be placed before the National Assembly during its session scheduled to be held on November 26, sources said. However, the government spokesman categorically denied existence of such an ordinance.
The sources affirmed that the federal government was working on multiple strategies to check protesting leader Imran Khan’s new call for assembly of his supporters on November 30 in Islamabad.
There is a strong group within the government that wants to handle the issue administratively instead of politically and was arguing that Imran Khan and his supporters should be given a taste of tough administration, sources said.
The draft of the ordinance available with The Express Tribune deals with a number of issues that the government had to face when protestors led by Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri entered the so-called Red Zone in August earlier this year.
Sources said the ordinance has sections that seem to be influenced by some of the actions taken by the PTI and the PAT protestors in the last three months.
The ordinance has proposed 10-year prison term and Rs50,000 fine for use of force against the law enforcing agencies (LEAs). It also prohibits use of innocent people, women and children as human shield, entry in key installations and setting on fire the important record kept in these buildings and vehicles.
It also proscribes keeping hostage the citizens – dwelling in the area or working in the government offices – stopping the entry of authorised citizens in the HSZ or in their offices, establishing check posts within the HSZ and checking authorised citizens and employees.
Interestingly, the ordinance suggests one-month imprisonment or a fine of at least Rs1,000-2,000 for causing hindrance in exercise of powers by the LEAs, but proposes six-month imprisonment or Rs5,000-10,000 fine for illegal entry in the HSZ.
The ordinance has proposed a three-year prison term and Rs50,000 fine for baton-bearing persons, posing threat of injury or destruction of property.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 23rd, 2014.
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Our media should praise PMLn and PPP and should assist them in saving their dynasties. These criminals even don't want to give right of protest to other political parties.
This is criminal ! Doesn't it conflict with freedom of movement as per constitution anywhere in Pakistan. It's not a nuclear site !