Over the weekend, President Asif Ali Zardari signed the “Peaceful Protest and Public Order Bill 2024” into law. The new legislation, now an Act of Parliament, brings significant changes to the regulations for rallies and processions in Islamabad. Under this law, unauthorized public gatherings in the federal capital have been banned, and specific areas within the capital have been designated for public gatherings.
According to the Act, any rallies and meetings without prior permission will be considered illegal, and strict penalties are in place for violations – unauthorized assembly will be punishable with three years imprisonment, while a second illegal assembly may lead to 10 years imprisonment. The law also grants the District Magistrate the power to ban assemblies and authorizes the police to disperse unauthorized gatherings.
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Political parties intending to hold rallies must first seek approval from the Deputy Commissioner of Islamabad, and applications must be submitted at least seven days in advance. If the Deputy Commissioner denies permission, the decision can be appealed to the Chief Commissioner and, if needed, a review application may be submitted to the secretary of the Ministry of Interior.
Under the new rules, the government will determine specific locations for political gatherings, with Sangjani and other designated areas to be listed in a gazette notification for public rallies. Before granting permission, the District Magistrate will assess the security situation, and security clearance from relevant agencies will also be required. Additionally, no assembly will be permitted outside of the areas designated by the government.
