LAHORE: The Punjab government plans to limit and monitor activities of criminals, who have repeatedly got involved in heinous crimes after their release from jail, so as to protect people from them.

Under the plan, the movement of habitual criminals will be restricted and they may be required to wear an electronic surveillance gadget.

Official sources told Dawn that this would be done by amending the Restriction of Habitual Offenders (Punjab) Act of 1918.

Absence of such a regulatory mechanism makes it easy for a criminal to melt away anywhere in the country or abroad and continue to indulge in unlawful activities without being traced.

An official said the plan would allow the provincial government to declare, through a gazette notification but without any notice, an individual a “proscribed person” if he or she had been charged in two or more cases.

The cases include those of murder, robbery, armed robbery (dacoity), kidnapping for ransom, vehicle theft, extortion, drug trafficking, rape, child abuse and offences against property committed in an organised manner in one or more districts of Punjab or in another province or territory of the country.

Within three days of the issuance of the proscription order, the government will communicate the reasons for proscription to the individual concerned.

It may also ask that person to execute a bond with one or more sureties to the satisfaction of the district head of police in whose jurisdiction he lives or conducts business, about his good behaviour for a period not exceeding three years or till the issuance of a verdict in his trial, whichever is earlier.

The proscribed person will be required to seek permission from the officer in charge of the police station concerned before moving from the area of his residence and inform him about the area and the persons he intends to visit.

The government will also be able to restrict his movement to any place and ask him to wear an electronic surveillance gadget.

Published in Dawn, July 25th, 2016