Islamabad Enacts Safe City Ordinance With Two-Year Jail Term for Tampering With Surveillance Equipment

A new law in the federal capital now makes damaging, removing, or interfering with equipment belonging to the Islamabad Capital Safe City Authority a punishable offense, carrying a minimum of two years in prison, a fine of at least Rs. 200,000, or both. The Capital Safe City Authority Ordinance 2026 has formally come into effect in Islamabad, according to reporting by ProPakistani.

The ordinance prohibits any person from damaging, destroying, removing, misusing, or otherwise interfering with the authority's equipment or infrastructure without lawful permission. The protections extend to surveillance systems, communication networks, fiber-optic cables, and other assets owned or controlled by the authority.

Beyond physical interference, the law provides for legal action against anyone who gains unauthorized access to critical infrastructure, information systems, or data. Such offenses are to be handled under Sections 3 to 8 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016, tying the new framework to Pakistan's existing cybercrime legislation.

The ordinance also empowers the authority to inspect and integrate public and private CCTV cameras and fiber-optic networks to strengthen surveillance and public security. However, the authority is required to record its security justification in writing and to ensure that citizens' privacy is safeguarded. The integration provision does not apply to private homes or other locations not open to the public unless permitted by law.

Private and commercial entities that refuse to comply with CCTV integration directives, fail to meet camera or safety requirements, or obstruct inspections will first receive a warning and be given 15 days to comply. The ordinance further allows data recorded by the authority to be used as evidence in courts under Article 164 of the Qanun-i-Shahadat, 1984.

The measure reflects a broader push to formalize surveillance infrastructure in the capital while establishing accountability for tampering. It balances expanded monitoring powers with written justification and privacy safeguards, though its practical impact will depend on how the authority implements integration directives and enforcement in the months ahead.