The Senate passed the significant Anti-terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2025 on Tuesday, moving forward with a strengthened legal framework to combat national security threats. The passage occurred amidst vocal opposition protests, as the House rejected amendments proposed by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) lawmaker Kamran Murtaza. The bill, which was moved by Minister of State for Interior and Narcotics Control Talal Chaudhry, had already received approval from the National Assembly, marking a major legislative step.
The government has justified the new amendments as a critical response to the evolving security situation, which it states demands measures “beyond the existing legal framework.” The core objective of the bill is to empower the government, armed forces, and civil armed forces with the necessary authority to detain individuals deemed a significant threat. This includes provisions for preventive detention based on credible information or reasonable suspicion, aiming to proactively disrupt potential terrorist activities before they materialize.
A key operational change introduced by the bill is the formal facilitation of Joint Interrogation Teams (JTIs). These teams, composed of members from various law enforcement and intelligence agencies, are designed to conduct comprehensive inquiries and gather actionable intelligence. This legal backing is expected to streamline inter-agency cooperation and provide a more effective, unified front in operations against terrorism.
In addition to the anti-terrorism legislation, the Upper House also unanimously passed two other important bills. These were the Pakistan Land Port Authority Bill, 2025, presented by the interior minister, and the Petroleum (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which was moved by Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik. The passage of these bills indicates a busy legislative agenda for the government.
