President Zardari Signs Anti-Terr0rism (Amendment) Bill 2025 into Law
Islamabad, Pakistan — President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday signed into law the Anti-Terr0rism (Amendment) Bill, 2025, a significant move aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s counter-terr0r framework while ensuring legal oversight and safeguards.
Key Highlights of the Amendment
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Preventive Detention: Law enforcement agencies (LEAs) and armed forces can detain individuals for up to three months, subject to judicial oversight.
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Judicial Safeguards: Detentions will follow Article 10 of the Constitution, ensuring legal recourse against abuse.
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Scope of Offenses: Applies to suspects involved in activities like target killings, kidnapping for ransom, and extortion.
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Joint Investigations: Cases will be investigated by Joint Investigation Teams (JITs), including police, intelligence, and armed forces personnel.
Government’s Position
The President’s House stated that the new law “strengthens the ability of secu-rity agencies to prevent terr0rism and protect national secu-rity.” Officials argued that the amendments provide a much-needed legal framework to disrupt plots before they can be executed.
During parliamentary debates, government representatives stressed that the law balances counter-terr0rism powers with judicial accountability. Unlike previous practices, the amendment explicitly includes safeguards to prevent arbitrary detentions.
Opposition Concerns
The bill faced opposition protests in both the National Assembly and Senate. Critics warned of possible misuse of detention powers, arguing that civil liberties could be compromised. However, the government maintained that oversight mechanisms and constitutional provisions are in place to prevent abuse.
Why This Amendment Matters
Pakistan has faced persistent secu-rity threats requiring stronger preventive tools. The government noted that empowering LEAs and armed forces through this amendment will allow early interventions, disrupt organized networks, and ensure coordinated intelligence gathering.
At the same time, the law introduces oversight through judicial review and constitutional safeguards, marking a shift from past practices where such powers were often unchecked.
Conclusion
The Anti-Terr0rism (Amendment) Bill, 2025 represents a critical step in Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to enhance secu-rity while maintaining accountability. With preventive detention powers now coupled with judicial oversight, the law aims to strike a balance between national safety and individual rights.
