The Punjab government has allegedly proposed a draconian law called Punjab Control of Habitual Offenders and Anti-Social Behaviour Bill, 2026 with the opposition describing the legislation as an assault on fundamental rights and freedom of expression.
The Punjab Control of Habitual Offenders and Anti-Social Behaviour Bill, 2026 proposes giving the executive extensive powers to restrict individuals’ financial assets, seize property, disable digital presence, confiscate mobile devices, and impose electronic surveillance based on findings of an intelligence committee regarding alleged conduct.
The legislation broadly defines anti-social behavior to encompass offences such as extortion, fraud, public harassment, aerial firing, organized crime, cybercrime, drug trafficking, land grabbing, and the dissemination of misinformation or disinformation via electronic or social media, as well as displaying weapons online and sharing hate material that may incite violent extremism.
HRCP has warned that the proposed Punjab law grants sweeping executive powers to restrict individuals without adequate judicial oversight or due-process safeguards
Opposition Leader Moin Riaz Qureshi said the bill violates constitutional protections and democratic norms, warning it could severely undermine freedom of expression and accusing the government of using legislation to silence dissent.
He also said that previous accountability laws introduced by the PML-N had ultimately affected its own leadership.
Rana Aftab Ahmad read a letter in the assembly urging the speaker to halt passage of the bill in its current form and refer it for comprehensive constitutional and legal review, arguing it endangers fundamental rights, expands executive authority, and reduces judicial oversight in Pakistan context.
Meanwhile, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has expressed serious concern over the proposed Punjab Control of Habitual Offenders and Anti-Social Behaviour Bill, warning that it grants broad executive powers to impose intrusive restrictions on individuals without sufficient judicial oversight or due-process protections.
