Key Takeaways
- President Asif Ali Zardari has approved an ordinance to protect Islamabad’s Safe City cameras and surveillance infrastructure.
- The ordinance aims to ensure compensation for any damage caused to the surveillance systems.
- Financial penalties may be imposed for damaging Safe City cameras and surveillance infrastructure.
President Asif Ali Zardari has approved an ordinance aimed at protecting Islamabad’s Safe City cameras and surveillance infrastructure, according to official sources. The ordinance, approved on the advice of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, seeks to safeguard the Safe City cameras and surveillance systems from damage.
The ordinance specifically targets compensation for any damage caused to the infrastructure, ensuring that those responsible for such damage are held accountable. Financial penalties may be imposed for damaging the cameras and surveillance systems, with the maximum fine set at Rs2 million per camera or piece of infrastructure.
In cases where damage occurs during public meetings, processions, sit-ins, protests, strikes, or gatherings, the organisers may also be held responsible. The amount of the fine and the cost of the damage will be determined by an authorised officer after providing the person concerned with an opportunity to be heard.
The person concerned will have the right to appeal against the determination of the fine or cost of the damage before the District and Sessions Judge, Islamabad, within 30 days. In case of non-payment of the prescribed fine or compensation, the amount may be recovered as arrears of land revenue.
The ordinance also outlines the process for determining the amount of the fine and the cost of the damage. An authorised officer will assess the damage and provide the person concerned with an opportunity to be heard. The person concerned will have the right to appeal the decision within 30 days.
The President’s Office announced the approval of the ordinance on X, stating that it was titled the Islamabad Capital Territory Safe City Camera and Surveillance Infrastructure Protection and Damage Compensation Ordinance. The ordinance aims to ensure the continued functionality and protection of the Safe City infrastructure.
The approval of this ordinance is seen as a significant step towards safeguarding the surveillance infrastructure in Islamabad, ensuring that any damage to the systems is addressed promptly and effectively. The ordinance will come into effect once it is officially gazetted.
The ordinance is expected to have a positive impact on the overall security and surveillance capabilities of Islamabad, providing a legal framework for the protection of the Safe City infrastructure.
