• Punjab Control of Habitual Offenders and Anti-Social Behaviour Bill 2026 authorises electronic ankle monitors; allows freezing of accounts, blocking of ID and passport, digital presence
• Draft envisions district and provincial intelligence bodies to assess, flag threats
• Opposition warns of political victimisation, unchecked powers

LAHORE: The speaker of the Punjab Assembly was apparently taken aback after it emerged that the ‘Punjab Control of Habitual Offenders and Anti-Social Behaviour Bill 2026’, which he criticised as being reminiscent of colonial-era laws, had sailed through the Standing Comm­ittee on Law without his knowledge.

The bill is expected to clear the house soon, driven by the treasury’s overwhelming majority. A visibly-annoyed speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan warned the assembly secretariat of strict action on Sunday, questioning why he was not informed when the legislation was first introduced on June 8.

“It’s not possible to introduce a law reminiscent of the colonial era of the English,” Mr Khan said. “Will DC [deputy commissioner] and DPO [district police officer] be empowered to take action against an individual?”

He noted that even under existing laws, it is the courts that ultimately sentence individuals based on reports by intelligence agencies.

Earlier, PTI lawmakers criticised the bill during discussions on the supplementary budget, warning of severe human rights implications.

Lawmaker Rana Aftab Ahmed Khan cautioned that the legislation could lead to political victimisation, noting the incumbent ruling party could eventually become a target itself.

Ahmer Bhatti, another PTI lawmaker, highlighted that the proposed oversight committees comprise only government officers. “These officers will report against an individual and then would act against the person on their own without taking reco­urse to any judicial forum,” Mr Bhatti said.

Draft law

The draft of the ‘Punjab Control of Habitual Offenders and Anti-Social Behaviour Bill 2026’ states that it aims to tackle public nuisance, financial exploitation, and organised crime. It mandates the use of electronic tracking devices, such as anklets or bracelets, to monitor habitual offenders.

Under the new framework, the government will establish intelligence committees at the provincial, divisional, and district levels. These committees are desig­ned to enhance public safety, evaluate threats to foreigners, protect minorities, and closely monitor social media misuse.

The legislation outlines an extensive list of anti-social behaviours, ranging from operating gambling or drinking dens and illicit liquor manufacturing to online hate speech, impersonating public servants, and aerial firing.

District Intelligence Committees will be empowered to initiate inquiries, dem­a­nd surety bonds for up to six months, and recommend severe administrative penalties.

These penalties include blocking national identity cards and passports, freezing bank accounts, removing cyberspace presence, and confiscating electronic gadgets.

Recurrent offenders of serious crimes like theft, extortion, robbery, or drug offences face strict monitoring. Upon a police application routed through public prosecutors, a magistrate can order the offender to wear an electronic tracking device for at least three months.

To enforce compliance, the law introduces a strict zero-tolerance policy. Habitual offenders who fail to comply with tracking device terms face up to three years in prison.

Intentionally tampering with a tracking device carries a mandatory minimum one-year prison sentence, a 1 million rupee fine, and liability for the damaged technology.

Law enforcement will maintain biometric data, fingerprints, and DNA records in a centralised Punjab Habitual Offenders Registry.

Violating a committee order carries initial imprisonment of up to four years and a fine of up to Rs1.5m, with penalties escalating for repeat offences.

Public servants found abetting violators face up to two years in prison alongside departmental disciplinary actions. All offences under the proposed law are legally categorised as cognisable and non-bailable.

To protect individual rights, the bill outlines an appeals process, individuals can appeal to higher divisional and provincial intelligence committees, advance to an executive appellate committee, and ultimately to an independent tribunal led by a retired district and sessions judge.

Once enacted, the legislation will officially repeal the Restriction of Habitual Offenders (Punjab) Act of 1918 and the Punjab Control of Goondas Ordinance of 1959.

Published in Dawn, June 29th, 2026