10 November 2004	Wednesday	26 Ramazan 1425

ISLAMABAD, Nov 9: A draft legislation to amend the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) and curtail the police's powers of arresting people without warrants has been finalized by the Law and Justice Commission, sources told Dawn.

The draft legislation would be presented in the commission's next meeting for final approval, they said.

If approved, the law would prevent police from arresting a person without warrants or permission of a magistrate in offences where random raids or arrests are permissible under the rules.

Currently police enjoy powers to arrest any citizen on charges of drug trafficking, bootlegging or street fighting.

The sources said there were a number of complaints of abuse of the powers by police, resulting in arrest and detention of innocent citizens in violation of their fundamental rights to personal liberty, dignity and security.

A draft law to restrict the value of dowry and bridal gifts was also being prepared, they said. The law is called 'Prohibiting excessive expenditure on dowry'.