ISLAMABAD – The National Assembly on Wednesday passed an amendment to the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) 1997, reinstating provisions that empower law enforcement agencies, the armed forces, and civil armed forces to detain individuals deemed “suspicious” for up to three months.
The amendment restores Section 11EEEE — originally added in 2014 to allow preventive detention for inquiry — which had expired in 2016 under a two-year sunset clause. The revised law grants authorities the power to detain persons suspected of involvement in terrorism, target killings, kidnappings for ransom, extortion, or activities threatening Pakistan’s security and public order.
The bill, moved by Minister of State for Interior and Narcotics Control Talal Chaudhry, states that current security challenges require a stronger legal framework to disrupt terrorist plots before execution. It enables Joint Interrogation Teams (JITs), comprising police, intelligence, and military representatives, to conduct inquiries and gather actionable intelligence.
Under the amendment, a detention order — based on “sufficient grounds” — must be approved in writing, with detainees presented before a magistrate within 24 hours. The law will remain in effect for three years from the commencement of the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Act, 2025.
While Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar stressed that the powers would be used only in specific situations, opposition leaders strongly criticised the move. PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan called it a violation of fundamental rights, noting that similar provisions had previously been struck down by the Supreme Court. PTI’s Asad Qaiser warned the law could be misused against political opponents, while JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman argued that it effectively treats all citizens as potential criminals and fails to address terrorism.
The bill was passed with 125 votes in favour and 59 against after a clause-by-clause reading.
