August 19, 2025 – The Senate of Pakistan has passed the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, a major legislative move aimed at strengthening counter-terrorism measures. The bill had earlier been approved by the National Assembly.
Despite opposition, NA passes Anti-Terrorism Amendment Bill, extending Section 11 for 3 years.
Govt gains more powers to tackle terrorism, including pre-arrest of suspects, joint investigations & authority for armed forces and civilian institutions to detain suspects.#SamaaTV pic.twitter.com/zPHLVDFAZ3
— SAMAA TV (@SAMAATV) August 13, 2025
Key Provisions
- Preventive Detention:
- Security forces can detain suspects of terrorism for up to three months without formal charges.
- Detentions must be based on credible intelligence or reasonable suspicion.
- Judicial Oversight: Detainees must be presented before a magistrate within 24 hours.
- Joint Investigation Teams (JITs):
- Investigations will be carried out by JITs including police, intelligence, and security officials.
- Any detention ordered by the armed forces requires a JIT review with a senior police officer.
- Duration of Law: Powers under this amendment will remain in force for three years.
Government’s Position
- Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar defended the bill as a necessary response to rising terrorism, stressing that it would be applied selectively with safeguards in place.
Opposition’s Concerns
- Opposition parties, including PTI and JUI-F, strongly objected:
- Argued the law violates fundamental rights and constitutional safeguards.
- Warned it could be misused for political victimization.
- Cited previous Supreme Court rulings that had struck down similar clauses.
Broader Context
- The provision in question, Section 11EEEE of the Anti-Terrorism Act, had expired in 2016. Its reintroduction signals a major shift in counter-terrorism strategy.
- The bill reignites the debate between national security needs and the protection of civil liberties in Pakistan.
What’s Next: The law will come into effect immediately, and its implementation over the next three years will be closely watched by both human rights defenders and security analysts.
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