PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has decided to bring reforms to Sections 3 and 16 of Maintenance of Public Order (MPO), and Section 144 of Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) in order to stop its misuse, specifically for political victimisation.

The government decided that a committee would be formed to discuss the issue and present its recommendations for further action.

The decision, according to a statement issued from the chief minister’s secretariat, was taken during a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi on Saturday, wherein provisions related to Sections 3 and 16 of Maintenance of Public Order (MPO), and Section 144 of Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) were discussed.

During the meeting, Mr Afridi said that freedom of expression and the right to peaceful protest were fundamental rights of every citizen.

MPO, CrPC sections to be re-evaluated

However, he added that a new framework would be developed to strike a balance between citizens’ right to protest and public convenience, so that demonstrations did not cause unnecessary hardship to the general public.

“Every law has both positive and negative aspects, but our aim is to make them transparent and fair in line with the vision of founder of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan,” the chief minister said adding that laws must protect people, and not be used as tools of political pressure.

Mr Afridi reaffirmed that protecting citizens’ lives and property and ensuring public convenience remained top priorities of his government. “Every step we take must ultimately lead to the ease and well-being of the general public,” the statement quoted the chief minister as saying.

The meeting decided that a four-member committee, headed by provincial minister for law Aftab Alam, would be constituted to present recommendations for reforms in the relevant laws adding that the committee would identify provisions that could be misused and propose amendments to make the laws more transparent and equitable.

The meeting was also attended chief secretary Shahab Ali Shah, additional chief secretary home Muhammad Abid Majeed and advocate general Shah Faisal Utmankhel.

Published in Dawn, November 9th, 2025