People demand law to regulate demonstrations

Sunday, September 23, 2012 - Islamabad—People from across the religion political divide have demanded legislation by the Parliament and the provincial assemblies to regulate protests and rallies to avoid losses of lives and property at the hands of unscrupulous elements. A cross section of people, including some parliamentarians talking to INP expressed their great anguish and grief over the loss of innocent lives and losses of billions of rupees to public and private property.

Referring to Friday’s violent protests, they referred to looting and burning of banks, shopping plazas, shops and vehicles and said the followers of great religion of Islam and the Holy Prophet (PBUH) were supposed to stage peaceful protests but they were joined by thieves and scrupulous elements who exploited the situation and indulged in looting and ransacking for their personal gains.

Some elected representatives who refused to be identified that the political and religious parties should agree to consensus legislation that the parties taking out the processions would take the entire responsibility of law and order. Any losses to public and private property must rest entirely on those organizing the protest and they are made to pay. Till they do so, they should be sent behind the bar.

They said that to give strong signals that ransacking would not be allowed at any cost, the law should provide authority to the guards and security personnel at the installations to fire in defence. They said that this would serve as a strong deterrence to unlawful activities as witnessed in Karachi, Peshawar, Islamabad and other cities.

They said it was surprising that the agitators enjoyed a free hand and no political or religious leader led them to avoid any untoward incident.

A number of people who were to travel under compulsion like attending funeral of relatives and taking patients to hospitals were denied movement, which they said is a crime. Some of the people interviewed by this agency said that Afghan refugees were the main culprits in the looting of banks and shops and demanded that they be forcibly evacuated from cities and Pakistan.

Markets including Aabpara‚ Super and Melody are opened and traffic is also plying on the roads. In Islamabad‚ calm is prevailing after Friday’s furious protests against the production of a blasphemous film by an American.

Markets including Aabpara‚ Super and Melody are opened and traffic is also plying on the roads.

However‚ roads leading to the red zone are still closed. Police is on high alert and special security arrangements are in place outside the diplomatic enclave to avoid occurrence of any untoward incident.—INP/NNI