Asim Munir’s BIG move to suppress dissent; Pakistan amends anti-terror law, allows armed forces to detain ‘suspicious’ persons for…
In a move purportedly aimed at silencing critics and suppressing dissent against the de-facto army rule led by Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir, Islamabad has amended the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), empowering security agencies and the armed forces to detain “suspicious” individuals for up to three months.
What does the amendment say?
According to media reports, Pakistan’s National Assembly, Wednesday, passed an amendment to change Section 11 EEEE (preventive detention for inquiry) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, enabling law enforcement agencies, including the country’s armed forces, to detain “suspicious” persons for up to three months.
Initially, a 2014 amendment to the ATA provided for preventive detention of individuals suspected of involvement in terrorism-related activities, but the amendment was subject to a sunset clause and expired after two years in 2016.
However, in November 2024, the Shehbaz Sharif-led government moved a bill in the National Assembly, seeking to grant military and civil armed forces the authority to keep individuals facing terrorism charges in ‘preventive’ detention for up to three months. The bill, moved by Minister of State for Interior and Narcotics Control Tallal Chaudhry, was passed as an amendment on Wednesday, through a clause-by-clause reading, according to Pakistan’s state-run Associated Press of Pakistan news agency.
Why opposition groups fear the new law?
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Pakistan’s main opposition party led by jailed ex-PM Imran Khan, has opposed the amendment, claiming that it violated “fundamental human rights”.
“The Supreme Court said these laws were contrary to fundamental rights. You cannot touch a single person in the world without a solid reason,” said PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan.
PTI and other opposition groups fear the new law could be used by the Shehbaz Sharif government and the Army regime led by Field Marshal Asim Munir to silence dissent and opposition in the country.
However, Pakistan Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar assured the House that this law would only be used in specific circumstances.
“A clause is being added to the bill stating that there are solid reasons for arrest,” Tarar stated. “The arrested person will have to be presented before a magistrate within 24 hours, (and) a clause has also been included to be enforceable for a specific period.”
(With PTI inputs)
News