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New anti-terror law raises fears over civil rights
Reuters
ISLAMABAD: Parliament passed a law on Wednesday giving security forces sweeping powers to clamp down on militancy, but some activists and legislators criticised the provisions as too harsh. The legislation, known as the Protection of Pakistan Ordinance, must now be signed into law by the president. The debate over the law follows months of high-profile Taliban attacks and this month’s offensive by the military against militant sanctuaries in the remote border region of North Waziristan. Opposition senators had managed to water down some of the law’s most punitive clauses, said Senator Afrasiab Khattak. “It is still a very harsh law though,” Khattak said by telephone. “We will be raising these issues again when the law comes up for renewal in two years.” The revised legislation, he said, allows suspects to be held for questioning for 60 days without charges being laid instead of 15 days permitted at present. Senior police officers will be empowered to issue orders to shoot to kill suspects. It allows prisoners to be held at secret facilities but provides for some judicial oversight. Warrant-less searches are allowed, but the evidence and cause must be presented in court within two days. In its original form, the bill was far more harsh. It is intended to replace Pakistan’s outdated 1997 law, which has been the main piece of legislation used to counter growing militancy. But Fawad Chaudhry, a media adviser for the opposition Pakistan People’s Party, said the old law had not been used properly and he doubted that this one would be either.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk