Up to Rs 2 million can now be levied for each Safe City camera damaged in Islamabad.
President Asif Ali Zardari has signed an ordinance that criminalises the vandalism, sabotage or even the encouragement of tampering with the capital’s extensive surveillance network. The law sets the maximum penalty at two million rupees per camera and empowers authorities to recover unpaid fines by treating them as land revenue, thereby adding a powerful fiscal lever to enforcement.
The Safe City system, which links more than 3,500 high‑definition cameras across the city, is a cornerstone of Islamabad’s public‑security strategy, providing real‑time monitoring to police and emergency services. Over the past year, incidents of camera destruction—often attributed to political protests, petty vandalism, or attempts to conceal criminal activity—have raised alarms among security officials, who warned that any erosion of the network could compromise response times and public safety.
Under the new ordinance, anyone who deliberately damages a camera, or who incites others to do so, faces a fine that can be imposed per piece of equipment. If the offender fails to pay, the amount is added to the state’s land‑revenue ledger, allowing the government to seize or levy the debt against property holdings. Legal experts note that this provision sidesteps lengthy court battles and creates a direct financial incentive for swift compliance.
Law‑makers and law‑enforcement agencies argue the measure is essential to safeguard critical infrastructure and deter future attacks. Critics, however, caution that the hefty penalties could disproportionately affect low‑income individuals who might be caught up in protests or accidental damage, urging the authorities to ensure due process and proportionality in enforcement.
The ordinance reflects a broader trend in Pakistan of tightening penalties around public‑order and security assets, signalling the administration’s resolve to protect technologically advanced monitoring systems that are increasingly vital for urban governance and citizen safety.