The National Assembly on Wednesday passed the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill 2024, granting the armed forces and civil armed forces the authority to hold suspected individuals in preventive detention for up to three months.
The bill was approved by a majority, with 125 votes in favor and 45 against. Despite opposition protests, the government’s numerical strength in the House ensured its passage. Opposition members challenged the vote count, prompting a recount, which confirmed a majority in favor of the bill.
The session, chaired by Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, saw Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry present the bill. He stated that the amendment aimed to strengthen security and prevent terrorism, citing recent incidents in which four army majors were martyred in a single month. He stressed that the law would enable security forces to take timely action to thwart terrorist plots and apprehend dangerous elements.
According to the bill’s text, a joint investigation team will now be able to conduct comprehensive inquiries, and armed forces along with civilian agencies will have legal authority to detain suspects. While preventive detention for up to three months is permitted, authorities cannot detain anyone without solid evidence. Detention beyond three months will require reasonable justification.
The amendment also proposes a three-year extension of Section 11 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, granting the government broader powers to address terrorism threats. It allows for the pre-emptive arrest of suspects in cases involving serious threats to national security.
Opposition’s Concerns
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan opposed the bill, arguing that no law can contradict the Constitution and that it violates Article 10. He recalled Supreme Court rulings against legislation that undermines fundamental rights, warning that the amendment allows preventive detention for three months, extendable for another three, which could lead to human rights violations.
JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman expressed skepticism, noting that such laws have a controversial history. He pointed to similar legislation during the Musharraf era, saying it effectively criminalized every citizen at birth and placed the burden of proof on the accused. Citing a past case, he said a man was detained a year before the APS tragedy and later executed under such laws, calling them flawed and unfit to be used as precedent.
