Special courts will conduct summary trials for protest-related cases, with verdicts issued within 30 days
RAWALPINDI:
Ahead of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ain Pakistan (TTAP) nationwide strike and protest scheduled for February 8, the Punjab government has established a Riot Management Unit under section 31A of the Police Order.
The newly formed unit will be responsible for managing riots and illegal gatherings across the province. Operating under the supervision of the Provincial Police Officer (PPO), it will be equipped with modern crowd control tools, including water cannons, rubber bullets, tear gas projectiles, specialized vehicles and armored personnel carriers.
In parallel, special sessions courts will conduct summary trials for protest-related cases, with verdicts issued within 30 days. Under the newly approved framework, protesters, organizers and facilitators will be equally responsible for any unrest. Cases arising from protests will be tried through summary proceedings, with strict penalties for violators.
The amendments to the Punjab Police Order designate protest organisers, local facilitators and participants as collectively responsible for any disturbance, vandalism or loss of life and property. To further strengthen law enforcement, special anti-riot committees consisting of deputy commissioners and regional police officers have been created.
The government also approved creation of anti-riot zones in all districts and tehsils, particularly along the routes from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa to Adiala Jail and from Lahore to Adiala Jail. Zoning of the area has already begun, and each zone will be headed by an officer of the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) or Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP).
Under the amended law, arrested protesters can face up to 10 years in prison, a fine of 500,000 rupees and compensation for property damage. The compensation will be recovered through the sale of the movable and immovable property of the convicted persons.
Those accused of facilitating the protests, whether or not they are present at the scene, can face up to three years in prison and a fine of 100,000 rupees. Surveillance measures will also be implemented, including the installation of CCTV cameras along protest routes and the use of drones to identify participants.
All protest sites will be declared riot zones and the amended law will be fully implemented to curb riots.
