Senate approves Anti-Terrorism Amendment Bill 2025

ISLAMABAD: The Senate session has passed the Anti-Terrorism Amendment Bill, 2025.

The bill was presented in the house by Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry. An uproar was reported in the upper house over the passage of the Anti-Terrorism Bill.

Senator Pir Noor-ul-Haq Qadri, speaking to the house said, “We never support terrorism. [But] it remains to be seen whether the amendment will increase or stop terrorism.” He said that the gap between the public and the security agencies should not widen through the bill.

Also read: Ruling coalition gets two-thirds Senate control with six-seat win

“Sharia and religion guarantee personal freedoms. This law negates human dignity,” the senator said, adding that in the Farewell Pilgrimage, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) taught the protection of life, property and honor. “The law must be viewed from an Islamic perspective. The opinion of the Council of Islamic Ideology should be sought on the amendment,” he said.

JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman spoke on the bill saying that it declares every Pakistani is born a criminal. “Three-year custody and another three-month extension are worrying,” he added.”

Maulana Fazl added that the voice of the people of Balochistan, FATA and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is not being heard. “Thousands of people are deprived of justice. There is no access to the media and courts,” he said, adding, “Evil should not be remedied by creating new victims. Using the law at the SHO level will be barbaric and cruel.”

He warned that haste in making legislation is harmful and suggested that the should have been submitted to the Standing Committee first. Echoing Senator Qadri’s statement, he said, “It is necessary to take a formal opinion from the Islamic Ideological Council.”

Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar responded, “The Anti-Terrorism Act was challenged in the court in the past too.” He added that the current bill passed the test of judicial review and scrutiny. “The law was implemented after the APS Peshawar tragedy. The draft law was prepared after full consultation with the opposition. It included constitutional safeguards for citizens,” he said.

The Law Minister elaborated that Article 10 of the Constitution provides for detention. “The Anti-Terrorism Act remained in force for two years. The law expired after completing its term under the sunset clause. It was not declared null and void during the court proceedings.”

He said that the opposition leaders proposed amendments to the new bill. PPP’s Naveed Qamar and Sherry Rehman presented the amendments in the house. The amendments were made to make the law more effective and stricter, he said.

“The state has the responsibility to protect citizens and soldiers. The army can be used only on the orders of the government. The cabinet’s permission will be required for implementation in a province. A clear distinction has been made between crime and detention. Preventive detention is possible for only ninety days,” Tarar added.

Also read: PTI-backed Mashal Yousafzai wins Senate by-poll from KP

The bill dictates that in case of lack of evidence, the arrested person will be released. Every arrested person will be presented before the review board and the review board will include judges of the High Court and the Supreme Court.

It also stipulates that no one will be arrested on the basis of mere suspicion. Arrest will be possible only in the presence of sufficient grounds.

The aim of the law has been declared to prevent enforced disappearances. An inquiry process will be mandatory during protective custody.