LAHORE: Punjab is set to establish a separate force to deal with “unlawful” protests, riots and violent mobs after the Punjab Assembly’s Standing Committee on Home Affairs on Monday cleared wide-ranging amendments to the Police Order, 2002, aimed at tightening control over public disorder across the province.
The proposed Police Order (Second Amendment) Act, 2025, introduces a specialised Riot Management Unit (RMU) tasked exclusively with handling riots and violent assemblies. The new unit will be equipped with modern crowd-control gear and receive specialised training. Under the proposed framework, the RMU will operate under an additional inspector general of police (AIG) and remain under the overall supervision of the provincial police officer.
One of the key features of the bill is the formal concept of “riot zones”. Under the amendments, a deputy commissioner and district police officer will be authorised to jointly declare any affected area a riot zone. Once declared, authorities may cordon off roads, evacuate civilians, restrict movement and appoint an incident commander to coordinate operations among police and other departments.
The bill also provides legal protection to police and RMU personnel for actions taken “in good faith” during riot control operations, shielding them from civil or criminal proceedings for lawful use of force.
To enhance accountability, the amendments introduce financial liability for organisers, instigators and facilitators of riots and unlawful assemblies. Courts will be required to order compensation for deaths, injuries, mental trauma and damage to public or private property caused during such incidents. The compensation will be recoverable as arrears of land revenue, with default punishable by up to three years’ imprisonment.
A new chapter titled “Offences in the Riot Zone” prescribes stringent penalties, including imprisonment of up to 10 years and fines of up to Rs500,000 for attacks on police, law enforcement personnel or civilians, as well as for damage to property. These offences will be cognisable and non-bailable, with cases to be tried by sessions courts on a day-to-day basis and decided within 30 days.
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The bill further restricts accused persons from transferring property once a case is registered and bars foreign travel without court permission. It also allows the use of modern surveillance tools, including Safe City cameras, with photographic and video evidence declared admissible in court.
According to the statement of objects, the amendments aim to address rising incidents of violent protests, protect law enforcement personnel, ensure compensation for victims and provide clearer legal cover for police action.
Under the new law, the deputy commissioner and DPO can jointly declare any affected area a riot zone, allowing authorities to cordon off roads, evacuate civilians and appoint an incident commander to coordinate all departments during operations.https://t.co/ethjm68uFS
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) December 15, 2025
The proposed law will now be presented before the Punjab Assembly for debate and enactment. The move follows recent violent protests in the province, including clashes during a protest march by the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan last year, which led to widespread disruption, security operations and subsequent legal action against the group.
