President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday assented to the bill allocating only designated venues for public gatherings in Islamabad, ahead of PTI’s today’s rally.
After the President’s approval, the Islamabad public gatherings bill has become an act called The “Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act 2024”. In Islamabad, holding an assembly without permission will lead to a 3-year imprisonment, while a second illegal assembly will result in a 10-year imprisonment. The designated venue for gatherings will be the Sangjani area or any other area allocated by the govt.
Even with permission, a police officer can disperse public gatherings in Islamabad at any time. The Deputy Commissioner will grant permission, and if permission is denied, an appeal can be made to the Chief Commissioner. A review request against the Chief Commissioner’s decision can be submitted to the Interior Secretary.
