A bill to further amend the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 was tabled in the Lower House (National Assembly) of the country.
In the ongoing National Assembly session chaired by Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, the Federal Law Minister presented the Anti-Terrorism Amendment Bill, the Anti-Terrorism Amendment Bill was handed over to the committee for consideration.
Under the proposed amendment, armed forces and civil armed forces will have the authority to detain a person involved in crimes for three months, while security agencies can detain any person for three months for crimes related to national security, defense and public order. will be able to
According to the proposed amendment, the crime related to ransom, extortion, target killing and kidnapping can be detained for three months, while the person involved in crimes will be given the right to a transparent trial in detention or detention for more than three months. Further detention will be under Article 10A.
Where the armed forces or the civil armed forces order the detention of a person, the JIT will investigate the charges, the person involved in the said crimes will be investigated by the JIT.
The JITSP will consist of police, intelligence agencies, civil armed forces and armed forces, law enforcement agencies. The amendment to the Anti-Terrorism Act has been brought by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.
During the meeting, Prime Minister of Law Nazir Tarar, while expressing his attention on the attention notice regarding names of members of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) being in the Exit Control List (ECL), said that the Exit Control List (ECL) in the country CL) has a formal procedure for inclusion of names in the Provisional National Identification List (PNIL) while rules have been framed for inclusion of names in the Professional National Identification List (PNIL), with the Government taking sole responsibility for the legislation.
He said that there is a regular procedure of ECL, there are decisions of Supreme Court and High Courts regarding ECL law.
The Law Minister said that it is being reviewed to remove names from the exit control list, some names have been removed after review, I can say from the whole claim that the matter of review is considered according to the constitution and law.
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**Interview with Legal Expert Dr. Aisha Khan on the Recent Amendment to the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Khan. The recent amendment to the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 has sparked considerable debate. Can you explain the key elements of this amendment?
**Dr. Aisha Khan:** Thank you for having me. The amendment presented in the National Assembly proposes significant changes, particularly in extending detention powers. It allows both the armed forces and civil armed forces to detain individuals for up to three months if they are suspected of being involved in certain crimes. Furthermore, security agencies will be empowered to detain individuals for national security, defense, and public order-related offenses for the same duration.
**Interviewer:** That sounds quite powerful. What do you think the implications of this provision could be for civil liberties?
**Dr. Aisha Khan:** The implications could be profound. On one hand, the government argues that these provisions are necessary to combat terrorism and maintain national security. However, critics express concerns over potential abuse of power. Extended detention without trial can infringe on individuals’ rights and due process, raising questions about accountability and oversight.
**Interviewer:** Are there any safeguards that come with these new powers?
**Dr. Aisha Khan:** The bill has been handed over to a committee for further consideration, which is a positive step. Ideally, there should be robust safeguards and clear criteria for detention to prevent misuse. Transparent oversight mechanisms are necessary to ensure that these powers are not used arbitrarily.
**Interviewer:** What is the public sentiment regarding this amendment?
**Dr. Aisha Khan:** Public sentiment is mixed. Many people understand the need for security measures, especially in the face of ongoing threats. However, there is also a significant portion of the populace that values civil liberties and fears the erosion of individual rights. This tension will likely become more pronounced as the committee reviews the bill.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Dr. Khan, for your insights on this critical issue. It will be interesting to see how this amendment evolves in the legislative process.
**Dr. Aisha Khan:** Thank you for having me; it’s crucial for discussions like these to take place as we navigate the balance between security and civil rights.
