The Punjab government on Friday announced a policy to restrict and regulate rallies, processions and demonstrations on Mall Road (Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam) to avoid suspension of business activities.
Under the policy, the authorities concerned have been directed that bye laws notified by the District Administration under Local Government Ordinance 2001 to regulate protest processions and rallies be enforced while processions and protests, depending upon size be allowed at Nasir Bagh and Attique Stadium.
The district government would however designate any other appropriate open space for the purpose to meet emergent situation. Similarly, the Secretary Provincial Assembly would designate assembly staff as representative, who would go to Nasir Bagh in co-ordination with District Administration to receive petitions from protestors. On need basis, the district administration would provide transport to a limited number of 10-15 persons selected as representatives of protestors to take them to the Provincial Assembly Secretariat and bring them back to Nasir Bagh.
The Capital City Police Officer and Chief Traffic Officer would ensure that the vehicles carrying the representatives of protestors is escorted to the Provincial Assembly and back to Nasir Bagh. Protests and processions organised without permission and in violation of law would be video recorded by police. Maximum restraint would be exercised in the use of force, if such protests and processions are peaceful but legal action would be initiated against violators under relevant provision of law by the concerned SHO without delay.
The district administration, police and Mall Road Traders Association would continue building consensus on restricting protests and processions on Mall Road. The Mall Road Traders Association shall affix boards and plaques to warn against criminal action against protestors who block or hinder traffic on Mall Road. The district administration, police and Mall Road Traders Association would continue to persuade media to refrain from covering protests organised on Mall Road without permission and in violation of law.
A committee would be constituted with Punjab Education Minister Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman as Chairman and include Mian Marghoob Ahmad (MNA), Khawaja Salman Rafique MNA, Chairman Mall Road Traders Association, Capital City Police Officer Lahore, District Co-ordination Officer Lahore and Chief Traffic Officer Lahore as members with the task to gradually build consensus among all stakeholders, manage irritants that may arise from time to time and assist the district administration in enforcement of the policy.
The Capital City Police Officer Lahore would provide an analysis on protests on Mall Road to the committee on fortnightly basis. The analysis would include impact of the efforts made by the administration to restrict and regulate protests to facilitate improvement in enforcement mechanism.
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