ISLAMABAD – The National Assembly on Tuesday passed the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2024, reinstating a contentious provision allowing 90-day preventive detention of terror suspects—a move met with fierce opposition and a JUI-F walkout.
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Extended Detention: The bill amends Section 11EEEE of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, reviving a lapsed clause that permits law enforcement agencies (LEAs) to detain individuals for up to 90 days based on “credible intelligence.”
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Joint Interrogation Teams (JITs): Empowers multi-agency teams to conduct in-depth investigations.
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Sunset Clause Removal: The previous version had an expiry date; the new amendment makes it permanent unless repealed.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar defended the bill, stating it aligns with constitutional safeguards: “Detainees must be presented before a court within 24 hours, and judicial review remains intact.”
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JUI-F’s Protest: Lawmaker Aliya Kamran demanded the bill be reviewed by the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), but her motion was rejected (41-125 votes). JUI-F members staged a walkout, with chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman slamming it as a “discriminatory law” and questioning the state’s failure to curb terrorism in 25 years.
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PTI’s Objection: Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan called it “unconstitutional,” arguing it violates fundamental rights.
While the PPP backed the bill, senior leader Naveed Qamar warned against misuse: “No one should be arrested out of personal vendetta. Action must be evidence-based.” The government incorporated some of PPP’s amendments to address concerns.
The amendment aims to bolster counter-terror operations amid rising security threats. However, critics fear it could enable arbitrary detentions, echoing past abuses under anti-terror laws.
Other Bills Passed
The NA also approved:
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National School of Public Policy (Amendment) Bill, 2025
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Petroleum (Amendment) Bill, 2025
Why It Matters:
The revival of extended detention powers signals a hardening stance against terrorism but reignites debates over civil liberties vs. national security—a balancing act Pakistan has long struggled with.
The bill now moves to the Senate for approval.