President Asif Ali Zardari has approved an ordinance aimed at protecting Islamabad’s Safe City cameras and surveillance infrastructure from damage and ensuring compensation for any losses.
According to the President’s Office, the ordinance is titled the Islamabad Capital Territory Safe City Camera and Surveillance Infrastructure Protection and Damage Compensation Ordinance.
Under the ordinance, a fine of up to Rs2 million may be imposed for damaging each Safe City camera or piece of surveillance infrastructure. Financial penalties may also be imposed on individuals who incite or encourage such damage.
The Presidency said that if damage occurs during a public meeting, procession, sit-in, protest, strike or other gathering, the organisers may also be held responsible for the resulting loss.
The amount of the fine and the cost of repairing the damage will be determined by an authorised officer after giving the concerned person an opportunity to be heard.
The person affected by the decision will have the right to appeal against the fine or compensation amount before the District and Sessions Judge, Islamabad, within 30 days.
In case of non-payment, the prescribed fine or compensation may be recovered as arrears of land revenue. The funds recovered through fines and compensation will be used for the repair and replacement of Safe City cameras and surveillance infrastructure.
The ordinance comes as authorities move to strengthen the protection of surveillance infrastructure in the federal capital. The development follows the decision by the PTI to defer its planned Islamabad protest until October 4, seeking the release of party founder Imran Khan, who is currently incarcerated at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.
Officials said that during a PTI protest in 2024, 441 Safe City Authority cameras were damaged.
