Islamabad: Protest is a constitutional right, but this right cannot be used to justify paralysing cities, endangering people’s lives, or causing irreparable damage to the national economy. Pakistan needs a permanent, fair, and workable legal framework that can effectively regulate protests before they turn into confrontations, loss of life, and public hardship.

It has repeatedly been observed in the country that political and religious gatherings result in the closure of highways, suspension of transport services, disruption of businesses, and restrictions on citizens’ movement. Ordinary people suffer the most under these circumstances. Daily-wage workers lose their income, patients face difficulties reaching hospitals, students’ education is disrupted, and the business community has to bear substantial financial losses. The burden of compensating for these losses generally falls on the same citizens.

However, the solution to this problem is not to suppress peaceful dissent, but to establish clear, uniform, and enforceable legal regulations for protests.


Review of Existing Laws and Elimination of Legal Gaps

The government should review the existing legal framework, particularly the Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act, 2024, applicable within the jurisdiction of Islamabad, and work with the relevant governments and legislative bodies to address legal gaps at the federal and provincial levels in accordance with constitutional jurisdiction. The objective should not be to unnecessarily duplicate existing laws, but to establish an integrated system that effectively addresses practical challenges.

Under the proposed framework, prior notification of protests, the designation of organisers, the identification of specific locations and designated routes, and compliance with a code of conduct should be among the fundamental requirements. A clear distinction should be maintained between peaceful protesters and those involved in violence, vandalism, threats, or the deliberate obstruction of public routes. Penalties for violations should be proportionate, evidence-based, and consistent with legal requirements, while the rights to appeal and judicial review should also be protected.


The Law Must Apply Equally to Everyone

No political party, religious organisation, farmers’ organisation, labour union, or pressure group should receive an exemption solely on the basis of its political influence. Similarly, no organisation should be subjected to discriminatory action merely because it opposes the government. There should be no room for collective punishment, political revenge, or unjustified restrictions.

Any ban on a political party, disqualification, or restriction on its political rights should be imposed only in accordance with the procedures prescribed by the Constitution and relevant laws, through decisions by competent authorities and with appropriate judicial oversight. The purpose of the law should not be to eliminate political disagreement, but to keep dissent within a peaceful and organised framework.


The Lives of Police Personnel Matter Too

The responsibility for organising protests does not rest solely with protesters. The state is also responsible for providing police personnel assigned to prolonged duty with quality food, clean drinking water, safe accommodation, sanitation facilities, medical assistance, and duty schedules that include appropriate breaks. Timely risk assessments, emergency medical arrangements, and effective planning to protect personnel from unnecessary risks are essential.

Media reports concerning the deaths of police personnel while performing protest-related duties in Punjab warrant serious attention. Various reports have emerged regarding personnel who died while deployed in and around Attock and Wah Cantt, although accounts of the circumstances and causes of certain incidents have not been consistent. In this situation, impartial investigations and the publication of verified official records are essential. Records of previous incidents, including the death of Constable Muhammad Mubashir Bilal at the Hakla location in November 2024, should also be compiled separately and accurately.

Every deceased officer is not merely a government statistic, but a human being, a member of a family, and a responsibility of the state. The actual circumstances of every incident must be verified, conflicting reports clarified, responsibility established where evidence of negligence exists, and legal entitlements paid to affected families without delay. The death of any officer should not be lost in administrative ambiguity or political debate.


Consultation and Accountability in the National Interest

To develop an effective legal framework, the federal and provincial governments, political parties, law enforcement agencies, civil society, the transport sector, and business representatives should be included in the consultation process. Alongside protecting peaceful protests, the framework should provide for clear action against violence, the unlawful obstruction of public routes, and damage to public and private property. Transparent reporting of public losses resulting from major protest events and the costs incurred in restoring essential services should also be mandatory.

Pakistan can neither afford to treat every protest as an emergency and make hasty decisions, nor can it afford to suppress dissent in the name of law and order. What is needed is a system of rules established in advance, effective safeguards, and mutual accountability that apply equally to organisers and government personnel.

The objective is not to silence the voice of protest, but to protect this constitutional right while safeguarding the rights, livelihoods, economy, and lives of other citizens. A permanent, impartial, and enforceable law can provide the foundation for achieving this balance in Pakistan.