The National Assembly approved on Friday a bill to regulate public gatherings in Islamabad with a majority vote, as the PTI prepares for a rally in the federal capital on Sunday.

The ‘Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Bill, 2024’ bill, introduced by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Danyal Chaudhary, aims to regulate public gatherings to ensure they do not disrupt public order.

Law Minister Azam Tarar said that the purpose of the “bill is to maintain peace during public assemblies and processions.”

He dismissed the opposition’s concerns, noting that the increasing number of demonstrations in the federal capital has caused significant inconvenience to citizens. The bill seeks to “address these challenges while preserving the right to peaceful assembly.”

Tarar said the bill 2024 “aims to ensure that the public order is not disturbed by public gatherings.” He rejected the notion of the opposition and said the federal capital was seemingly “under siege” and the growing number of processions had made the lives of citizens miserable.

According to the Statement of Objects and Reasons: “The right to assemble peacefully is a fundamental right, but it is subject to reasonable restrictions in the interest of public order morality, and the security of the state. The restrictions are necessary to ensure the exercise of this right does not infringe upon the rights of others and threaten the stability of society. It is important to strike a balance between allowing peaceful assembly and maintaining public safety and order.”

The regulation of assemblies is necessary to balance the right to protest with the rights of other citizens to go about their daily lives without under disruption.

“This right involves requiring permits, setting time and place restrictions, or limiting the size of gatherings. Such regulations are often enshrined in legal frameworks, ensuring that assemblies can be conducted peacefully while minimizing the risk of conflict or disturbance.”