What Happened: Pakistan’s Senate has passed the “Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Bill 2024”, which regulates protests in Islamabad and imposes jail sentences of up to three years for unauthorized gatherings. The law aims to ensure peaceful protests are held in designated areas, such as Sangjani.
What you need to know: The bill was passed with a majority vote, despite opposition from parties like Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), who claim it’s an attempt to suppress political expression. PTI Senator Ali Zafar expressed concerns that the law targets an upcoming PTI protest.
More: However, Senator Irfan Siddiqui and Federal Minister Azam Nazir Tarar defended the legislation, stating it provides better facilities for peaceful gatherings and ensures media coverage.