Amendment bill seeking three-month detention powers presented in NA

ISLAMABAD: The government has introduced a bill in the National Assembly seeking further amendments to the Anti-Terrorism Act, proposing powers to detain individuals for up to three months.

The bill, presented on behalf of Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, seeks an amendment to Section 11, Subsection 4E of the Anti-Terrorism Act. If passed, the amendment would allow the armed forces and civil security agencies to detain individuals suspected of involvement in crimes related to national security, defence, or public order for a period of three months.

The amendment would apply to crimes such as extortion, ransom, targeted killings, and abductions, permitting security agencies to hold suspects for up to three months in custody.

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Any detention exceeding this period would guarantee the right to a fair trial.

The bill also proposes that detentions beyond three months be conducted under Article 10A of the Constitution.

For cases where the armed forces or civil security agencies decide to detain an individual, a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) would be formed to carry out inquiries.

The JIT would comprise representatives from the police, intelligence agencies, civil armed forces, the military and other relevant law enforcement agencies.