The Senate Standing Committee on Interior approved a bill on Tuesday that imposes up to three years imprisonment for holding unauthorized protests in the federal capital, Islamabad. The committee approved four bills with a majority vote while deferring one.
According to the approved bill, protests and gatherings will only be allowed in designated areas such as Sangjani or any other location in Islamabad where the government grants permission. Anyone organizing or participating in protests without government approval can be jailed for up to three years.
The Senate Standing Committee on Interior met at Parliament House under the chairmanship of Senator Faisal Saleem Rehman. During the discussion, Senator Irfan Siddiqui emphasized that the bill applies only to Islamabad, where container blockades are already causing disruptions. He suggested designating a specific area for protests, stating that the purpose of the bill is to regulate protests in Islamabad according to the law.
Senator Faisal Sabzwari noted that besides political parties, religious groups also hold protests. Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri clarified that the bill is not intended to target any specific political party, while Senator Saifullah Abro argued that peaceful protest is a constitutional right of every citizen.
The committee also demanded a report from the Ministry of Interior regarding the unlawful arrest of Senator Mushtaq Ahmed and the treatment of his family.
