Punjab set to roll out safety reforms with new Act, home dept prepares draft

LAHORE: Punjab Home Department has prepared the draft “Safe Punjab Act, 2025”. The Act will tighten the noose around miscreants to maintain law and order. It will also help the provincial, divisional and district intelligence committees in collective decision-making.

Punjab Home Department Spokesperson informed that the “Safe Punjab Act” will give additional powers to district intelligence committees to maintain peace. These committees will be given alternative powers to the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Act, 1960.

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Persons considered a threat to law and order can be taken into protective custody for 90 days. Passports and identity cards of those who pose a threat to law and order can be blocked.

Moreover, the Act recommends that the names of individuals implicated in serious crimes be considered for inclusion on the no-fly list. The immovable property of those who pose a threat to law and order can be confiscated, as per the draft law.

As per the new draft, recommendation to freeze the bank accounts of such persons can be sent to the federal government. The authority has also been given to include names of members of banned organizations in the Fourth Schedule.

The draft Act states that there will be three to five years of imprisonment and a fine of Rs500,000 to Rs1 million for violation of the orders of the intelligence committees.

Furthermore, keeping someone in protective custody for more than three months will require approval from a “Provincial Review Board”. The Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court (LHC) will constitute the Provincial Review Board, which will include a head and two members. These will be current or former judges of the High Court.

The draft Act also contains a blueprint for the formation of intelligence, coordination and public relations committees up to the district level.

The Home Department Secretary will head the ‘Provincial Intelligence Committee,’ which will also include the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Home Department Special Secretary, the Additional IG of the Special Branch, the Additional IG of the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), and representatives from federal intelligence agencies.

The Divisional Intelligence Committee will be headed by the Divisional Commissioner while the members will include the Capital City Police Officer (CCPO)/ Regional Police Officer (RPO), Superintendent Police (SP) Special Branch, Divisional Officer CTD and representatives of federal intelligence agencies.

The District Intelligence Committees will be headed by the Deputy Commissioner, while the members will include the District Police Officer (DPO), Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Special Branch, District Officer CTD and representatives of federal intelligence agencies.

These intelligence committees will also form ‘District Peace Committees’, the draft Act proposes. It will be the responsibility of the intelligence committees to take timely decisions and practical steps to establish law and order.

It is the responsibility of the Intelligence Committees to take action against elements posing a threat to provincial peace and public safety

The Intelligence Committees will be able to seize hateful materials. Under the Act, “Faceless Tribunals” will be established in cases of terrorism and serious crimes.

Home Department Spokesperson reiterated that the aim of this is to ensure the safety of representatives of law enforcement agencies involved in the prosecution, witnesses and judges of the tribunal.

The Special Tribunals will be headed by retired District and Sessions Judges, he added.

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