President of Pakistan grants approval for legislation enabling detention of "terrorism" suspects for a duration of three months.
In a move that has sparked controversy and concern, Pakistan's upper house of parliament, the Senate, has amended the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) bill. The bill, now known as the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2025, has received the president's assent, as per Pakistan's parliamentary procedures and law, by President Asif Ali Zardari.
The amendment aims to strengthen counterterrorism operations, according to Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar. It allows for terrorism suspects to be detained for up to 90 days by the government, armed forces, and civil armed forces. The bill creates a lawful framework for preventive detention, and approval from respective provincial governments is required for enforcement in provinces.
However, the bill has faced criticism from various quarters. Opposition parties, including the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), have expressed concerns that the amendment could be misused against government critics. Families and rights groups in Balochistan, a province currently facing twin insurgencies, have often accused state institutions of arbitrary detentions and extrajudicial killings. Enforced disappearances have been a contentious issue in Pakistan, particularly in Balochistan province.
The ethnic Baloch separatist groups in Balochistan are demanding independence from Islamabad, and the province's population has accused the center of robbing the province's natural resources. The new law is intended to replace illegal practices and address concerns raised by families of "missing persons," according to the government.
The bill provides legal cover for joint interrogation teams (JITs) composed of multiple law enforcement and intelligence agencies. The National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) in Pakistan is responsible for overseeing and approving actions related to the arrests of suspects under the new anti-terrorism law.
Pakistan's civilian government and military deny the allegations and claim several health, education, and infrastructure projects are in place in Balochistan to help its population. However, the practice of arbitrary detentions and extrajudicial killings remains a source of domestic and international criticism.
The spike in militant attacks in Pakistan since the truce between the state and the Pakistani Taliban broke down in November 2022 has further fuelled the need for stronger counterterrorism measures. Yet, the balance between security and human rights remains a delicate one, and the debate surrounding the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2025, is likely to continue.
Detainees have legal recourse through federal and provincial review boards composed of Supreme Court and high court judges. The law aims to provide a more structured approach to counterterrorism operations while ensuring due process for those accused. As the situation in Balochistan and other troubled regions evolves, the effectiveness and fairness of this new law will be closely scrutinized.
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