Dossier
Criminal Tribes Act
Coverage of Criminal Tribes Act in the Nexus archive.
Punjabplace2Punjab Control of Habitual Offenders and Anti-Social Behaviour Bill, 2026topic1Asad Jamalperson1Ali Javedperson1Adnan Sattarperson1Human Rights Commission of Pakistanorganization1Crime Control Department (CCD)organization1Habitual Offenders Acttopic1Ali Javed Darugarperson1Neeladri Bhattacharyaperson1Bilal Zahoorperson1Punjab Defamation Acttopic1
- Habitual offenders, anti-social behaviour bill: Proposed law will turn Punjab into an open jail: rights activists
Rights activists and lawyers in Pakistan warn that the proposed Punjab Control of Habitual Offenders and Anti-Social Behaviour Bill, 2026, could lead to mass repression, preemptive punishment, and the targeting of dissenters, arguing it redefines criminality to include unproven accusations and challenges to state narratives.
- Bureaucratic control
A proposed Punjab bill targeting 'anti-social' behavior faces criticism for violating fundamental rights and echoing colonial-era laws like the Criminal Tribes Act and Habitual Offenders Act. The legislation is seen as part of a broader trend of centralizing executive control over social and governance aspects through new laws.