The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Caretaker Cabinet approved the draft of an Ordinance amending various Sections of Pakistan Panel Code (PPC) and Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) enhanceing punishments and penalties for all those organizing unlawful assembly, rioting and disobeying an order lawfully promulgated and/or causing obstructions, or injury to persons lawfully employed. Specifically, these amendments relate to the violation of sections 147, 148 and 188 of PPC.
The 21st meeting of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cabinet, presided over by Chief Minister Justice (R) Syed ArshadHussain Shah, took place at the Secretariat in Peshawar on Wednesday. The meeting was attended by ministers, advisors, special assistants, the Chief Secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, additional chief secretaries, and relevant administrative secretaries.
According to details the Cabinet approved amendments to Sections 147, 148, and 188 of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860 and in Schedule II of the Criminal Procedure Code 1898 by enhancing the punishment of the said sections to create deterrence and to stop unlawful assembly and rioting etc. and to maintain the writ of the state and peace. While the existing punishment u/s 147 of PPC was “upto two years or with fine, or both” it was increased to “upto three years and shall also be liabe to fine upto two hundred thousand rupees. In default of payment of fine additional imprisonment for three months.” In schedule-II “may be arrested without warrant “non-bailable” has also been added.
With regard to Section 148 the existing punishment was “upto three years or with fine, or both” has been replaced by “upto fine years and shall also be liable to fine up to five hundred thousand rupees, which shall not be less than one hundred thousand rupees.