Islamabad:
The National Assembly adopted the anti -terrorist bill (amendment), 2024, granting the power for military and civil armed forces to place individuals confronted with accusations of terrorism by virtue of pre -trial detention on Wednesday.
The bill was moved by the Minister of State inside and to the narcotics control Talal Chaudhry and sailed through the reading of clause by clause with a majority vote, rejecting the amendments proposed by Aliya Kamran de Jui-F.
Article 11EEE of the anti -terrorist law (ATA), which allows pre -trial detention for interrogation, was inserted for the first time in 2014 after the attack on the public school of the army in Peshawar but discouraged in 2016 due to a sunset clause. The bill reintroduces this powers, allowing detention on the basis of credible information or reasonable suspicion of disturbing the planned terrorist activities.
The legislation also provides for the training of joint interrogation teams (JIT) including members of various law enforcement agencies and intelligence to conduct full surveys and collect usable information.
According to the declaration of objects and reasons, the security situation in force “requires a solid response which goes beyond the existing legal framework” to equip the government, the armed forces and the civil armed forces with the authority to hold individuals constituting a significant threat to national security.
Earlier, the Chamber adopted the motion to take charge of the bill with 125 votes in favor and 59 against.
According to a copy of the bill, in paragraph (1), the detention of a person arrested under article 11EEE, including detention greater than three months, would be subject to the provisions of article 10 (guarantees of arrest and detention) of the Constitution.
The bill has described an amendment to the paragraph (1) of clause 2 of article 11EEE, which is read as follows: “The government or, when the provisions of article 4 have been invoked, the armed forces or the civil armed forces, because the case may be subject to the specific or general order of the government in this regard this act relating to the security or the defense of Pakistan or the order Public relating to targeting death, ransom and extortion, Bhatta, or to maintain supplies or services, or against which a reasonable complaint has been filed, to credible information.
Meanwhile, in paragraph 2, the following modifications were proposed: “In paragraph (2), for provident, what follows will be replaced, namely: on condition that when the detention order was issued by the armed forces or the civil armed forces under the sub-section (1), the request must be directed forces and other organizations for the law and for the paragraph (2A) Substituted, namely: (2A) The provisions of subsections (1) and (2) will remain in force for a period of three years from the start of the anti-terrorism law (amendment), 2025. “
The bill also incorporated an amendment to the 2-section 11EEE (pre-trial detention for investigation) of the ATA which would grant the armed forces or to the civil armed forces the power to stop a “suspicious person” for three months.
The amendment was moved by PPP MNA Naveed Qamar. “In clause 2, in paragraph a), in article 11EEEE, in the proposed paragraph (1), because the expression” a reasonable complaint has been made or credible information has been received, or a reasonable suspicion exists “, the expression ‘of sufficient reasons exists” must be substituted “, the indicated modification.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar told the House that this law would only be used in specific situations.
“A clause is added to the bill indicating that there are solid reasons for arrest,” said Tarar. “The arrested person must be presented to a magistrate within 24 hours [and] A clause was also included to be enforceable for a specific period. “”
Reacting to the adoption of the request for modification of the ATA, the president of the PTI, the lawyer Gohar Ali Khan, noted that a similar law had been brought before and described it as a violation of “fundamental human rights”.
“The Supreme Court said that these laws were contrary to fundamental rights,” said Gohar. “You cannot touch a single person in the world for no solid reason.”
The head of the PTI and former president of NA, Asad Qaiser, assaulted the bill and rejected him in his address.
“New legislation has been adopted, where you can be detained in prison for months without authorization,” he said. “These laws can be used badly and will target political opponents.”
Qaiser said he only wanted peace and trade in the country, warning that the Constitution was “destroyed”.
The head of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl Maulana Fazlur Rehman deplored that Pakistan’s anti-terrorism legislation against corruption and mismanagement has made each citizen “intrinsically of criminals”.
“A person is first arrested and then proven himself guilty. There is no room for such legislation in the world,” he said.
“Terrorism has not stopped. I can’t even go back to my village now,” he added.
“A guest in our region has been informed that extremists control outside. The legislation has made no difference, because this parliament does not matter. They create laws on the basis of signals.”
Two other bills – the National School of Public Policy (amendment) bill, 2025, and the oil law (amendment), 2025 – have also been adopted. These were moved by the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and the Minister of Petroleum Ali Pervaiz respectively.
On the eve of the 78th day of the independence of Pakistan, the National Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution reaffirming its commitment to protect the country’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence.
Moved by Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry on behalf of all parliamentary parties, the resolution paid tribute to the struggle and sacrifices of the ancestors of the nation under Quaid-I-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, culminating in the creation of an independent state on August 14, 1947.
The house has recognized the importance of the Markaa-E-Haq, a “glorious victory” of the valiant armed forces of Pakistan by pushing the Indian aggression not caused, as well as the courage and professionalism of the security apparatus and the civil heroes. He also recognized the unity and resilience of the people of Pakistan and paid tribute to the martyrs and the Ghazis.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s determination to continue peace and friendly relations with all neighbors on the basis of equality, mutual respect and non-interference, the resolution is committed to defending the country’s sovereignty against any aggression and called on all citizens to work collectively for the unity, prosperity and progress in Pakistan.
