look news india
Lahore, 22 October (HIST). Pakistan's Punjab government has once again empowered Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to ban meetings, rallies as well as pillion riding on two-wheelers in their districts for 30 days to maintain law and order in the province. The Home Secretary has now been given the authority to impose Section 144 in any district or entire province for 90 days. The Punjab government will have the power to impose restrictions for more than 90 days in case of serious law and order situation.
According to Dawn newspaper, a gazette notification was issued to amend Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Punjab Amendment) after the approval of the provincial assembly. Earlier, in matters of law and order situation, the Deputy Commissioner used to first wait for the permission of the Home Secretary to impose a ban on protests, meetings, rallies, dharnas and pillion riding of two-wheelers. However, till two decades ago the Deputy Commissioners had this power. But after Pervez Musharraf became President, these powers were transferred to the District Nazims.
During the Musharraf regime, sub-sections (1), (4), and (5) of the CrPC were amended to transfer the power to impose Section 144 from the DC to the District Nazims. This amendment allowed District Nazims/Administrators to impose Section 144 on the recommendations of the District Superintendent of Police and Deputy Commissioner (DC). Later, when the post of District Nazims was abolished, these powers automatically passed to the Deputy Commissioner.
