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Punjab Assembly speaker surprised by committee's approval of anti-social behaviour bill, says not aware it was laid
🇵🇰 Pakistan /Crime & Justice

Punjab Assembly speaker surprised by committee's approval of anti-social behaviour bill, says not aware it was laid

From Dawn · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • The speaker of Pakistan's Punjab Assembly expressed surprise over the approval of a bill that could grant sweeping executive powers.
  • The proposed legislation allows authorities to freeze bank accounts, seize property, and conduct surveillance based on intelligence assessments.
  • Opposition members voiced concerns that the bill, reminiscent of colonial-era laws, could be used for political victimization.

Pakistan's Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan was taken aback when informed that a controversial bill granting broad executive powers had been approved by a standing committee. The Punjab Control of Habitual Offenders and Anti-Social Behaviour Bill, 2026, proposes allowing the executive to freeze bank accounts, seize property, remove online presence, confiscate phones, and implement electronic surveillance based solely on an intelligence committee's assessment of an individual's conduct.

It has been laid?

— Malik Muhammad Ahmad KhanThe Punjab Assembly Speaker's surprised reaction upon learning that the anti-social behaviour bill had been approved by the standing committee.

During a session to discuss the province's supplementary budget, opposition member Rana Aftab Ahmad Khan alerted the speaker to the bill's approval. He argued that the legislation infringes on human rights and could negatively impact future generations, warning that the ruling party could also become a target if its political fortunes change. The speaker expressed annoyance with the assembly secretariat for introducing the bill without his knowledge, stating it was not possible to enact laws similar to the colonial era and that there might be a misunderstanding.

It’s not possible to introduce a law reminiscent of the colonial era … There could be some misunderstanding on this. Let me see.

— Malik Muhammad Ahmad KhanThe speaker's comment on the nature of the proposed legislation and his intention to review it.

Further concerns were raised by opposition members who feared the bill's potential for political misuse. They pointed out that officers could act against individuals based on their own reports without judicial intervention. The bill aims to address "public nuisance," financial exploitation, and systemic criminal activities by establishing intelligence committees at various levels to enhance public safety, protect minorities, and monitor social media. However, the broad scope of activities defined as "anti-social behavior" has fueled apprehension about its implementation.

officers will report against an individual and then act against that person on their own without taking recourse to any judicial forum.

— Ahmer BhattiAn opposition member's concern about the bill's potential for unchecked executive action and political misuse.
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Originally published by Dawn. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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