Punjab bans glorification of terrorists
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LAHORE: The Punjab government has promulgated an ordinance which bans glorification of terrorists and their outfits at any forum and in the media. It regulates manufacture or sale of uniforms of law-enforcement agencies.
The Punjab Maintenance of Public Order (Amendment) Ordinance, 2015, which amends the identical law of 1960, is part of the legal reform measures the government is taking to curb terrorism.
The ordinance promulgated on Tuesday says: “A person shall not, by words spoken or written, use any formal forum to support terrorism or terrorists, or attempt to create sympathy for any terrorist or terrorist organisation, or to oppose action of Pakistan army, air or naval force, police or Rangers against any terrorist or terrorist organisation.
Also read: MNAs, media bodies at odds over space for terrorists
“The organiser of a formal assembly shall electronically record audio and video of unedited speech or speeches made there, and submit a copy of such record to the officer in-charge of the police station (concerned).”
The ordinance defines ‘formal assembly’ as a political or religious gathering held with prior notice or a sermon at a place of worship. A marriage ceremony, a lecture or an activity in an educational institution or meetings of a club, society or company will not be considered as such an assembly.
Formal forum means electronic or print media (television, radio, newspaper, periodical and journal), political or religious gathering with prior notice or a sermon at a place of worship.
The term ‘organiser’ means a person or persons, who has or have organised the assembly or invited people to attend it and includes owner, manager or in-charge of the place where the assembly is held and the person who makes a speech there.
The ordinance forbids a person from manufacturing, possessing or selling uniform of police or any other organisation or agency notified by the government without their prior written permission.
The punishment for violation of the three offences is imprisonment for up to six months and fine ranging from Rs25,000 to Rs100,000. The illegally manufactured uniform shall be seized and forfeited.
The offences are cognisable and non-bailable and will be summarily tried by a class-I magistrate.
Published in Dawn January 21st , 2015
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Comments (50) Closed
Jan 21, 2015 06:44am
late but much needed.
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Jan 21, 2015 06:46am
Rs25,000 to Rs100,000 is very little fine for hate speech. This punishment seems designed for Mulana Abdul Aziz. The fine should be RS 2.5 Million to 100 Million with 12 years imprisonment.
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Jan 21, 2015 06:48am
What a hypocrisy?
Internally Punjab Govt striking deals with banned orgs like LeJ/SSP/ASWJ and issuing stipends to terrorists like Malik Ishaq
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Jan 21, 2015 07:04am
Good. I want to see these punishments being implemented now.
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Jan 21, 2015 07:17am
I hope This includes Lal Masjid Traitors. Who are being glorified.
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Jan 21, 2015 08:09am
You mean glorification of terrorists was fine until now? What sort of country is this?
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Jan 21, 2015 08:23am
What a joke?
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Jan 21, 2015 08:32am
All of a sudden, the government wants to make new laws, new ordinances, and changes to how people behave. The whole effort seems like a PR campaign, with no sincere efforts or well thought through programs - just superficial modifications, and announcement of new laws each day.
It would be better if the government took the time to explain to people what went wrong with the society, what wrong policies were followed, where the pakistani people went astray. Without such an understanding, the people will just see such superficial changes as mere charades.
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Jan 21, 2015 08:42am
At last. At last some action. Let the Government now get to the task of purging school text books of all hate spewing material. Let it regulate madrassas so that the discourses are confined to religion and not spreading discord among communities. Results will automatically follow.
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Jan 21, 2015 08:48am
Without clearly defining who a terrorist is, this law is meaningless and stands a chance of being unused or abused. Completely at the mercy of the enforcing agency.
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Jan 21, 2015 08:53am
Great! More needs to be done to change the mindset of glorifying such people
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Jan 21, 2015 08:53am
Step in the right direction.
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Jan 21, 2015 08:58am
Thank you.
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Jan 21, 2015 09:11am
why is "a lecture or an activity in an educational institution or meetings of a club" not coming into scrutiny?? These are 'public places' where people are brainwashed.
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Jan 21, 2015 09:12am
So the lawyers who threw rose petals on murderer Mumtaz Qadri will be fined now?
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Jan 21, 2015 09:20am
I hope the word "terrorist" is also defined.
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Jan 21, 2015 09:21am
This is good - issue written instructions for Jumma prayer / Khutaba.
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Jan 21, 2015 09:24am
Keep squeezing the juice out of terrorists, their supporters, their
sympathizers, and their financiers--foreign and domestic--till they are no more. Use all possible just and fair means to thoroughly transform the country into a land of peace, safety, security and prosperity for all its citizens and visitors.
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Jan 21, 2015 09:50am
Does this law applies to murderers of Modal Town too? It should.
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Jan 21, 2015 09:51am
Good ordinance but must be implemented strictly
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Jan 21, 2015 09:58am
Finally. Its time to snub this kind at every level.
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Jan 21, 2015 11:04am
Did it really take this long to figure things out? These animals need to be hung, that will teach their followers to behave or follow their fate
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Jan 21, 2015 11:46am
why not it will include lecture?
why such a low detterent? only 1 lac!. this would have been low in 1985 even.
for gast theft fine up to 5 lacs and imprisonment over 1 year and for hate preaching and terrorism support only 6 months?
in dubai they banned smoking in public areas at once after years of people having this habit + facility. and the max imposible fine was 1 million UAE dirhams.
nawaz and shahbaz are just not serious... it is quiet obvious. PML N does not need opposition. these people are going down, the writing is on the wall
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Jan 21, 2015 11:51am
Better late than never. It is now in the interest of Islam and Pakistan that 'de-jehadification' be done at a great pace since some misguided people are using it to destroy image of Islam, the Pakistani society and the peace of the world using misinterpretation of the concept as described in true sense in Islam.
It is important to change the mindset of the people and everything including educational content also be thoroughly reviewed if we want to survive as sane society and peaceful country in the world.
What is now needed is to fight the menace with intellectual and material resources. It's a matter of life and death for us.
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Jan 21, 2015 12:20pm
We have routine promulgations ordinances,acts a "stale mind set" that had to political talking points" not serious solutions. masroorsp@gmail.com
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Jan 21, 2015 12:33pm
@Hasan Hasni
No fine; just fix punishment=life not restricted to years but till death.
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Jan 21, 2015 12:49pm
What about the source baking them ?
How do we retaliate ?
There is no defence without the deterrence of offence.
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Jan 21, 2015 02:12pm
Good action.. Imply it and get them
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Jan 21, 2015 02:24pm
Simple leaflets should be distributed by the Govt in affected areas which highlight facts, which I understand to be (approximately):
55,000 Pakistanis civillians murdered
5,000 security personnel murdered
$60bn of loss to the economy
Polarisation of society bankrolled by Iran, Saudi, India
Destruction of Pakistan's reputation internationally
All people spreading hate should be recorded on mobile phones (as evidence) and uploaded annonymously to a website so the Government can take action against them.
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Jan 21, 2015 02:48pm
@KK This is known as selective wisdom OR Rules are for fools. In Pak, law makers & powerful can break rules anytime!!
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Jan 21, 2015 03:15pm
Bravo Punjab, better late than never.
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Jan 21, 2015 04:43pm
What a non serious joke for such a abnoxious crime. THINK once again and inactive an appropriate punishment not less than five years imprisonment and minimum one lac fine for the alleged criminals.
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Jan 21, 2015 05:53pm
We have numerous such bans and laws in the past. But a mere creation of laws is not the panacea. Implementation is needed without discrimination. We do not need more laws. The nation needs end to injustices. Laws are applied only on the downtrodden. We need accountability of those who breaks laws on a regular basis irrespective of their influential background. A nation cannot achieve distinction only by building edifice of the laws. Actions are required to ensure rule of law.
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Jan 21, 2015 07:10pm
What a harsh punishment - doubt whether the Goverment is really sincere in tackling the menace of hate speeches and provocations.
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Jan 21, 2015 07:10pm
Even though there are a lots of loop hole in this ordinance, but better than nothing. Lets see if you can implement them.
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Jan 21, 2015 07:12pm
@Prof Abdul Malik , agree, terrorists can not function with the help of their sympathizers and apologists. Lets go after them first.
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Jan 21, 2015 07:14pm
Glorifications to be banned but alliance to continue.
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Jan 21, 2015 07:16pm
@Iqbal .. Totally agree .. obvious examples in countries like Afghanistan, Israel etc, where the banned outfits are criminals to one side while heroes to the other side.....even UN is reluctant to have a clear definition of word 'T' as it can easily be abused ( which does actually happen even in the modern world )
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Jan 21, 2015 07:28pm
A step in the right direction.
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Jan 21, 2015 07:38pm
@GA yes they should be fined on the spot!!!
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Jan 21, 2015 08:11pm
@Jason "You mean glorification of terrorists was fine until now? What sort of country is this?" No it was not fine. There was no punishment for it. This is a country learning from it's mistakes.
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Jan 21, 2015 08:25pm
I hope the government of Punjab is serious and does not use the law to penalize political opponents as usual.
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Jan 21, 2015 08:28pm
Good moov..
But how can one differentiate between a terrorist and a freedom fighter ...
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Jan 21, 2015 09:25pm
great step and i hope that it is not coming too late.Terrorism in any form can not be justified whether for right or wrong cause, because in any case innocent life's should not be taken/affected at any cost
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Jan 21, 2015 11:10pm
lip service being paid by Punjab government, just fooling everyone, they will do nothing. Lets see how long it will take them to successful prosecute one person.
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Jan 23, 2015 07:26am
@Jason Banana Republic!!!
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Jan 23, 2015 07:29am
What a joke!!! The proposed fine is negligible. Also, the licenses of the lawyers glorifying the merderer of a sitting governor should be canceled and hugely fined. One of the lawyers was awarded by the government and made a judge. He should be immediately removed and punished.
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Jan 23, 2015 10:10am
@kaushal kishore If they use violence they are terrorists!
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Jan 23, 2015 11:25pm
Also give the police the backing and power to arrest those supporting or carrying out terrorism.
Law and order needs to be enforced.
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Jan 26, 2015 09:41pm
It would be better if the government took the time to explain to people what went wrong with the society, what wrong policies were followed, where the pakistani people went astray. Without such an understanding, the people will just see such superficial changes as mere charades.
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