Senate passes bill imposing 3-years jail term for unauthorised gatherings

ISLAMABAD: Senate approved “Peaceful Assembly and Public Peace Bill” with majority vote before the Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf(PTI) rally in the federal capital. Through this bill imprisonment up to three years for holding or participating in unauthorised protests in the capital city despite opposition by the PTI. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Irfan Siddiqui, while presenting the bill, said that the Standing Committee Interior has approved the bill by 6 to one, it should be approved immediately. On this, PTI's Senator Ali Zafar said that this law is being made to stop PTI's rally. In response to Ali Zafar's criticism, Irfan Siddiqui said that this bill has nothing to do with any rally, the entire city is currently in a cage and under siege. Later, opposition leader Senator Shibli Faraz addressed the chair that "you are misusing your authority. Your malice is evident. You will also face the music, one day. The city is locked down when [international] cricket teams come here." He offered the government to hold a rally. This law is made to target the PTI's rally. The law minister cannot hoodwink the house, he added. Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar said that the administration's permission to PTI to hold a rally is still intact, a peaceful rally is party right. Later, Senator Siddiqui moved the motion for “Peaceful Assembly and Public Peace Bill, 2024,” in the House which was passed by a majority vote. [embedpost slug="bill-to-regulate-protests-in-mega-urban-centers-tabled-in-senate"] It should be noted that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has announced a rally on September 8 in Islamabad.