Punjab proposes special powers for police during protests.
The Punjab government has decided to introduce amendments to the Right to Peaceful Protest Act 2024. On the instructions of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, the law department has been tasked with preparing a draft and presenting it before the provincial cabinet.
Safeguarding the rights of citizens
According to government sources, the primary aim of the amendments is to legally safeguard the right of citizens to peaceful protest while ensuring measures are in place to prevent violence and disruption.
Officials said the proposed changes seek to strike a balance between upholding democratic freedoms and maintaining law and order.
Salient features of amendment
The draft amendment includes several new provisions:
- Citizens’ right to peaceful protest will receive explicit legal protection.
- Preventive measures will be strengthened to avoid violent actions during demonstrations.
- Police will be granted special powers to manage and regulate protests effectively.
- A new condition will require that citizens’ lives and daily activities are not adversely affected during demonstrations.
Sources within the Punjab government emphasized that the amendments are designed to ensure that peaceful protests remain a democratic right but without compromising the safety, security, and rights of the wider public.
