The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has expressed serious concern over a draft law recently introduced in Pakistan’s National Assembly that would grant district magistrates the authority to ban public gatherings in Islamabad on various grounds, including public order. The HRCP warned that this legislation if passed, would violate the constitutional right to peaceful assembly under Article 16 of Pakistan’s Constitution.
The proposed law not only empowers district magistrates to prohibit public gatherings but also authorizes the use of force and arrests against protesters who fail to comply with such orders. The HRCP fears that this could set a dangerous precedent, enabling the state to suppress dissent and target opposition parties, as well as human rights activists addressing issues considered controversial by the government.
This development comes against a backdrop of increasing restrictions on civil liberties in Pakistan, particularly in Balochistan. The province has long been a focus of stringent security measures, where public gatherings are often met with heavy-handed responses from authorities. Activists and political groups in Balochistan have repeatedly faced crackdowns, with restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly being common.
The HRCP has raised concerns that the new draft law could further exacerbate these issues, not only in Islamabad but across the country, particularly in regions like Balochistan where tensions are already high.
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The HRCP is urging the Standing Committee on Law and Justice to reject this draft law, emphasizing that it poses a significant threat to democratic freedoms and the right to peaceful protest in Pakistan.