In the wake of violent protests by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the Punjab government has decided to introduce the Right to Peaceful Protest Bill.
According to a report by the 24NewsHD TV channel, the draft of the act has been finalized and will soon be presented in the Punjab Assembly for approval.
The proposed law aims to hold people and organisations responsible for inciting violence during protests.
It also includes provisions to ensure compensation for damages to public and private properties caused by such demonstrations.
The research conducted for the legislation revealed that PTI’s protests were among the most violent in recent history.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz presided over the 20th cabinet meeting in Lahore on Tuesday.
A 66-point agenda was discussed, which included several key initiatives such as issuing welfare cards for minorities, establishing the Punjab Enforcement Authority, and constructing twin high-rise towers near Chauburji to provide housing for government officers.
Other significant decisions included launching the Sohna Punjab Tourism Internship Program, approving funds for the Horse and Cattle Show 2025, acquiring land for the Sialkot Ring Road project, and approving budgets for the Sargodha Waste Management Company and Sahiwal Water and Sewerage Company.
10,000-personnel force to combat riots
The Punjab cabinet strongly condemned brutal violence by the PTI workers against police and Rangers during its protest. The cabinet paid rich tribute to the law enforcers and prayed for the departed souls.
It approved a special package for the martyrs and the injured. The meeting okayed a Rs29 million package for the martyred lawmen and a Rs1 m special package for the injured.
It gave the go-ahead for establishing a 10,000-personnel force to combat riots.
Speaking on the occasion, Maryam Nawaz said 172 police personnel were injured due to the PTI protesters’ brutality and most of them are in critical condition
She added: "It is shameful to see the condition of the injured personnel undergoing treatment at CMH Rawalpindi. This showed the PTI workers’ violent side.
“SP was beaten so mercilessly with nailed sticks that his skull and brain were damaged and his eye was swollen. I have never seen such a display of brutality and cruelty in my life. The constable martyred by the violence of PTI workers has children."
The chief minister issued directives to ensure law and order. The cabinet approved laws to declare kite-flying non-bailable, Punjab Enforcement and Regulatory Authority Rules 2024, establishment of Punjab Enforcement and Regulatory Authority,
Maryum Nawaz praised Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb and her team for steps to combat smog.
The meeting was told farmers in Punjab purchased agricultural inputs worth Rs 25 billion through the Kisan Card and they purchased DAP fertilizer worth Rs 16 billion.
The chief minister said, “For the first time, neither shortage of fertilizer hit Punjab, nor its rates shoot up. For the first time, the cabinet approaved a Minority Card package to help 50,000 poor families across Punjab.
Minority Affairs Minister Ramesh Singh thanked the Punjab CM for the special arrangements on Guru Nanak's birth anniversary. Chief Minister Maryam also directed steps to establish 3 motels in Nankana Sahib.
It gave the go-ahead for a project of Punjab Police training to 210 Iraqi policepersons and the latest machinery to improve the performance of local bodies across Punjab, amendments to the Local Government Act and Punjab Local Government Works Rules.
Approval of providing MRI and Cath Lab to Gilgit-Baltistan by Punjab, Approval of launching of Tourism Internship Program, conducting evening classes in nursing colleges of Punjab, recruitment on 276 technical posts of Punjab Agriculture Food and Drug Authority, the establishment of the new board of management of 8 hospitals, inclusion of 43 development projects of Kasur district in the Annual Development Program, Eastern Waste Water Treatment Plant project in Faisalabad, supplementary grant of Rs 192 million for the rehabilitation of Tollington Market in Lahore, inclusion of 87 incomplete development projects across Punjab in the Annual Development Program, amendments to Public Private Partnership Act 2024 and Advertisement Policy 2024 were also accorded.
Reporter: Rao Dilshad Hussain