KARACHI: Police authorities are preparing a proposal to book under the terror law the organisations, individuals, leaders and activists who block traffic on key roads for protests or demonstrations without any prior intimation to and permission from the authorities concerned, it emerged on Sunday.

The move was planned apparently after recent traffic chaos in the city following protest demonstrations one after another by different political and religious parties.

“The proposal is being drafted by the Sindh police in line with the feedback from its traffic section,” said a source.

“The idea is to have a deterrent effect on agitators and protesters whether associated with any group or party. From protests against power failure to demonstrations against a government organisation a trend has emerged to block the nearest road. The police need to discourage the trend.”

He said city roads suffered traffic chaos half of the week in the last ten days of September 2014 when first a political party staged sit-ins on different city roads and then a religious party followed the practice for its demand.

“The point is that the protesters know it very well that even if they are caught by police for creating hurdles or blocking roads, they would be released in a few hours. There are clauses in the law to charge people for arson, violent protest and attack on government officials but the police want to incorporate another one that deals with road blocking under the anti-terror law,” he added.

The city roads have seen off-and-on blockade by different political parties mainly for protest but the trend has gained greater momentum over the past few months. The police authorities argue that in the past the political parties and other organisations used to take permission from the provincial home department or at least inform the local authorities before holding a rally or a mass public congregation.

The back-to-back sit-ins led to serious traffic chaos in the city as the traffic authorities were left with no option but to divert the vehicles to alternative routes which were unable to cater the flow at the rush hour. The officials believed that the frequency of protest demonstrations has increased manifold and most of the time they are staged unannounced and on key roads.

When pointed out that the police proposal could attract serious criticism from rights and political quarters which could dub the move against fundamental rights and the spirit of democracy, the authorities sounded confident about covering all aspects before suggesting legislation.

“It’s not to put a ban on any rally, demonstration or protest,” said an official engaged with the finalisation of the proposal. “It’s just to make sure that no one snatches people’s right to move on roads for any individual or group’s personal demand. They may hold a rally, stage a protest or a demonstration but only with prior permission and on the marked place.”

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2014