ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - The federal government has started legislation to give authority to law-enforcement agencies to arrest anybody involved in terrorist activities.
The amendment, which seeks to modify the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997, was presented by Federal Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Azam Nazir Tarar in the National Assembly.
More to Read: PTI workers booked under anti-terrorism laws after Faizabad unrest
The deputy speaker promptly referred the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill to the relevant Standing Committee for further scrutiny.
Under the proposed amendments, armed forces would gain the authority to detain individuals suspected of involvement in terrorist activities for up to three months. The bill outlines that individuals can be held based on credible information and sufficient grounds, with a high-level Joint Investigation Team (JIT) set up to probe allegations.
The JIT would include senior police officers, intelligence officials, civil armed forces representatives, and other relevant personnel, ensuring a comprehensive investigative approach.
According to the bill’s statement of objectives, a similar amendment had been enacted in 2014 but expired in 2016.