President Asif Ali Zardari has approved the Islamabad Safe City Camera and Surveillance Infrastructure Protection and Damage Compensation Ordinance.
The ordinance aims to protect Safe City cameras and surveillance systems from damage and ensure compensation in case of any damage. Under the ordinance, financial penalties can be imposed for damaging Safe City cameras or surveillance infrastructure, inciting such damage, or encouraging others to do so.
How much could you be fined?
A fine of up to Rs2 million can be imposed for damaging each Safe City camera or piece of surveillance infrastructure. Organisers may also be held responsible for damage caused during rallies, processions, sit-ins, protests, strikes or public gatherings.
The amount of the fine and cost of the damage will be determined by an authorised officer after providing the concerned person with an opportunity to be heard.
The person concerned will have the right to appeal the determination of the fine or damage cost before the District and Sessions Judge Islamabad within 30 days.
If the imposed fine or compensation amount is not paid, it may be recovered as arrears of land revenue.
The money collected through fines and compensation will be used for the repair and replacement of Safe City cameras and surveillance infrastructure.
Islamabad Safe City cameras are an extensive digital video surveillance and smart monitoring network managed by the Safe City Islamabad project under the capital police to automate law enforcement, manage traffic, and secure public spaces.