The fight between Imran Khan and Shahbaz Sharif has intensified once again in Pakistan. Thousands of PTI supporters will take out a huge procession in Islamabad today to release Imran who has been imprisoned in Pakistan’s Adiala jail for months. To crush the PTI movement, Pakistan’s Shahbaz Sharif government passed a special law in the Parliament two days ago. Under this, it will be necessary to take permission 7 days before any public rally and even after getting its approval, it can be done under the rules. This new law has a provision for harsh punishment if caught. PTI called this law a tactic to stop them. The ‘Public Order Law’ is also creating controversy in Pakistan because this bill was passed in a hurry in the Parliament and within a few hours President Asif Ali Zardari also approved it.
Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari has approved a controversial bill passed in both houses of the parliament to crack down on public protests and processions in Islamabad. This bill was passed in the parliament within a week and also got the assent of the President. After the hasty passing of this law, Shahbaz Sharif’s government and President Zardari are being accused of haste. The opposition has alleged that this draconian bill was passed without everyone’s consent and discussion.
Why is Sharif government’s public order law becoming a controversy
The Shahbaz Sharif government has passed a special and stringent law to ban public gatherings in Islamabad. According to Dawn, the ‘Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Bill 2024’ was introduced in the upper house on September 2, approved by the relevant standing committee on September 3 and passed by the Senate on September 5. Despite opposition from the opposition, the bill was passed in the National Assembly on September 6 and approved by the President within a few hours.
What the new law says
According to the constitution of Pakistan, the president has 10 days to sign a bill passed by parliament or send it back to parliament for reconsideration, but instead President Zardari approved it in just a few hours. The law states, “If any person is sentenced by any court in Pakistan to imprisonment for a term of three years or more under this Act, he may be sentenced to imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years for each subsequent offence.”
According to this new law, for permission of any gathering or demonstration, a written application has to be made to the District Magistrate at least seven days before its scheduled date. The law provides that “on receipt of the application, the District Magistrate will examine the prevailing law and order situation and obtain a security clearance report from law enforcement agencies before granting permission.” There is no guarantee that permission will be granted under the new law.
Sharif and Imran’s parties face to face again
By bringing this law, the Sharif government has sent a message that it can make the capital Islamabad a ‘red zone’ or ‘high security zone’. This law can ban all types of gatherings in this area. Under this law, no more than 15 people can gather in any political or public meeting, rally or protest. In this case, the PTI has accused the Sharif government of ‘failing the PTI’s show of strength by bringing this law’.
The government passed the bill despite opposition lawmakers rejecting it in both houses of parliament. The opposition alleges that it has been maliciously drafted to prevent the PTI’s show of strength on September 8 in Islamabad. Leader of the opposition in the Senate, Senator Shibli Faraz, told Dawn that there was haste in passing the bill in both houses of parliament. Moreover, the approval given by the President proves that this law is for PTI in particular.
He said the Sharif government, which came to power by stealing PTI’s mandate, is continuously using both houses of parliament to protect its political and personal interests. He said this law is against the fundamental rights of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression and shows that the government is scared of the growing popularity of the opposition party.