ISLAMABAD: NA has passed an amendment to the ATA 1997 on Wednesday (13th August, 2025) once again empowering LEAs to detain terror suspects for 90 days.
HRCP, by means of X, reiterated its concern over the “National Assembly’s passage of an amendment to the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997, reinstating provisions that allow the government, law enforcement and security agencies to detain individuals considered suspicious for up to three months.
“Preventive detention without charge or trial—based on vague criteria—risks undermining due-process guarantees under Articles 10 and 10A of the Constitution and opens the door to abuse. HRCP urges legislators to reconsider this measure and ensure that counterterrorism efforts comply with Pakistan’s constitutional human rights obligations.“
Taking to the X National Assembly stated: “During the National Assembly session, Minister of State for Interior and Narcotics Control, Mr. Talal Chaudhry, on behalf of the Federal Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control, moved that the Bill further to amend the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 [The Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2024], as reported by the Standing Committee, be taken into consideration at once.”
The bill read: “…the current security situation requires a robust response that goes beyond the existing legal framework. The erstwhile amendment of Section 11EEEE of the act, ibid, are required to be re-inserted to empower the government, armed forces, and civil armed forces with the necessary authority to detain individuals who pose a significant threat to national security.
“This provision would allow for the preventive detention of suspects based on credible information or reasonable suspicion, thereby disrupting terrorist plots before they can be executed. This will also provide law enforcement agencies with the legal backing to conduct more effective operations against terrorism…It would facilitate the use of Joint Interrogation Teams (JITs), composed of members from various law enforcement and intelligence agencies, to conduct comprehensive inquiries and gather actionable intelligence…
“…The Government or, where the provisions of section 4 have been invoked, the armed forces or civil armed forces, as the case may be subject to the specific or general order of the Government in this regard, for a period not exceeding three months and after recording reasons thereof, issue order for the preventive detention of any person who has been concerned in any offence…
“…under this act relating to the security or defence of Pakistan or any part thereof, or public order relating to target killing, kidnapping for ransom, and extortion, bhatta, or the maintenance of supplies or services, or against whom a reasonable complaint has been made or credible information has been received, or a reasonable suspicion exists of his having been so concerned, for purpose of inquiry.
“…In sub-section (2), for the proviso, the following shall be substituted, namely: provided that where the detention order has been issued by the armed forces or civil armed forces under sub-section (1), the inquiry shall be conducted by the JIT comprising of a police officer not below the rank of superintendent of police,
“…intelligence agencies, civil armed forces, armed forces, and other law enforcing agencies and for sub-section (2A), the following shall be substituted, namely: (2A) The provisions of sub-sections (1) and (2) shall remain in force for a period of three years from the commencement of the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Act, 2025.”
Newspakistan.tv
