Punjab's 'anti-social' bill echoes colonial-era control, critics warn

A recently proposed bill concerning 'anti-social' behavior in Punjab, Pakistan, has ignited significant debate, drawing sharp criticism from opposition parties and media outlets. Lawyers and analysts point to fundamental rights violations within the legislation, noting its roots in colonial statutes like the Criminal Tribes Act of 1871 and the Habitual Offenders Act.

The Criminal Tribes Act, enacted during British rule, was instrumental in a colonial social engineering project in Punjab. Its purpose was to facilitate the displacement of pastoral communities inhabiting lands designated for irrigation and settlement. By classifying these groups as 'criminal tribes,' colonial administrators could enact punitive measures, aiding the transition from pastoralism to settled agrarian life, a process documented by historians like Neeladri Bhattacharya and Bilal Zahoor.

While the current bill's stated rationale is crime control and public order, its connection to land control and politics is a significant concern. Critics argue that despite differences from historical statutes, a common thread of subordinating governance to centralized executive control, particularly through the provincial bureaucracy, persists.

This trend is not new. Previous administrations, including the current prime minister's party, have employed similar centralized approaches for project-based development. However, the current administration is reportedly accompanied by a proliferation of legislation that tightens executive control over various social and governance aspects, including speech and the use of public spaces, raising alarms about a broader pattern of bureaucratic overreach.