The Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 Amendment Bill was introduced in the National Assembly on Friday, which has since been referred to the concerned Standing Committee.
Federal Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar presented a bill to further amend the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 in the Lower House.
According to a draft of the bill received by The Independent Urdu, ‘Prohibitory detention may be ordered against any person who, under this Act, is involved in any offense relating to the security or defense of Pakistan or any part thereof, or the purpose of to or connected with public order.’
According to the Bill: ‘If a person has committed targeted killing, kidnapping for ransom, and extortion, or maintenance of goods or services, or against whom a reasonable complaint has been made or information received, or any If there is reasonable suspicion, the person concerned may be detained for a further period of three months for inquiry into the matter. He can be detained under Article 10 of the Constitution of Pakistan.
According to the draft of the bill, the wanted person can be detained for another three months after three months.
This section contains related reference points (Related Nodes field).
While a joint investigation team (JIT) will be formed to probe these cases, which will include superintendents of police, intelligence agencies, civil armed forces, armed forces and law enforcement officers.
This law will remain in force for two years.
After being presented in the National Assembly, the Anti-Terrorism Amendment Bill was handed over to the relevant committee of the National Assembly for consideration.
Why was there a need to bring the bill again after 2014?
The Bill states that the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 was amended in the year 2014.
According to the aims and objectives, the government and authorized armed forces or civil armed forces have the authority to preventive detention of persons suspected of involvement in terrorism-related activities.
The provision was drafted to empower law enforcement agencies to detain suspects for up to three months for thorough interrogation and to prevent possible acts of terrorism. However, this amendment was subject to a sunset clause, which was limited to two years, which expired in 2016.
The aims and objectives state that the law needs to be re-enacted to empower the government, armed forces, and civil armed forces to detain individuals who pose a significant threat to national security.
This provision would allow the detention of suspects based on information or reasonable suspicion, thereby preventing terrorist acts before they take place.
This will provide legal support to law enforcement agencies to carry out more effective operations against militancy.
The bill would help members of law enforcement agencies and intelligence agencies join joint investigative teams to conduct comprehensive investigations and gather actionable information and conduct comprehensive inquiries, the objectives said.
!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)
{if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?
n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};
if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version=’2.0′;
n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;
t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];
s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window,document,’script’,
‘https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js’);
fbq(‘init’, ‘2494823637234887’);
fbq(‘track’, ‘PageView’);
#Detention #months #AntiTerrorism #Amendment #Bill #Parliament
**Interview with Federal Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar on the Amendment to the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Minister Tarar. Can you explain the main motivations behind reintroducing the Anti-Terrorism Act amendment bill after a considerable lapse since the last amendment in 2014?
**Azam Nazir Tarar:** Thank you for having me. The primary motivation for reintroducing this amendment is to enhance our existing legal framework to better address the evolving security challenges facing Pakistan. The terror landscape has changed, and we need to adapt our laws to ensure that they are effective in combating threats to our national security and public order.
**Interviewer:** One of the key provisions in the bill is the extension of detention periods for individuals suspected of serious offenses. Can you elaborate on this?
**Azam Nazir Tarar:** Yes, the bill proposes that individuals suspected of serious offenses such as targeted killings, kidnapping for ransom, and extortion can be detained for an initial period of three months. If necessary, this can be extended for an additional three months. This approach allows law enforcement to conduct thorough inquiries while ensuring that due process under the Constitution is still respected.
**Interviewer:** The formation of a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) is also mentioned in the draft. What will be the role of this team?
**Azam Nazir Tarar:** The JIT will play a crucial role in investigating the cases arising from this law. It will comprise members from various law enforcement and intelligence agencies, allowing for a multi-faceted approach to investigation. This collaboration is vital for gathering comprehensive evidence and ensuring that we can effectively address these serious crimes.
**Interviewer:** How long will this law remain in force, and what is the plan for its future evaluation?
**Azam Nazir Tarar:** The law is set to remain in force for two years. During this period, we will closely monitor its implementation and effectiveness. This will include assessing its impact on public safety and the legal system, as well as gathering feedback from law enforcement agencies. Based on these evaluations, we can consider any necessary adjustments or extensions.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Minister Tarar, for shedding light on this important piece of legislation. It seems like a decisive step forward in Pakistan’s fight against terrorism.
**Azam Nazir Tarar:** Thank you for having me. Our government remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of our citizens, and this amendment is a critical part of that mission.
