Islamabad, August 19, 2025: Amid opposition uproar, the Senate on Tuesday passed the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2025 with a majority vote, rejecting amendments proposed by JUI-F lawmaker Kamran Murtaza.
The bill, moved by Minister of State for Interior and Narcotics Control Muhammad Tallal Badar, seeks to amend the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 to strengthen the government’s ability to respond to security challenges. The House approved the bill after a clause-by-clause reading.
According to the statement of objects and reasons, the amendment reintroduces provisions of Section 11EEEE, empowering the government, Armed Forces, and Civil Armed Forces to detain individuals posing a significant threat to national security. The measure allows preventive detention based on credible information or reasonable suspicion to disrupt terrorist plots before execution.
The bill also provides legal cover for Joint Interrogation Teams (JTIs), comprising law enforcement and intelligence officials, to conduct inquiries and gather actionable intelligence. A three-year sunset clause has been added to the law, while detainees must be presented before a magistrate within 24 hours.
Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar said the amendments were essential to deal with the ongoing menace of terrorism. He noted that suggestions made by Syed Naveed Qamar had been incorporated and that the bill had already passed judicial scrutiny.
“The amendment is in accordance with the spirit of the 1973 Constitution,” he said, adding that due safeguards had been included to prevent misuse.
Opposition members voiced reservations, warning against potential misuse of the legislation. Barrister Syed Ali Zafar (PTI) said while his party opposed terrorism, some clauses were inconsistent with the Constitution and should be referred to committee.
Noorul Haq Qadri (PTI) and Kamran Murtaza (JUI-F) also called for the bill to be sent to the standing committee or the Council of Islamic Ideology for further review.
Senator Irfan-ul-Haq Siddiqui (PML-N) urged lawmakers to view the legislation in its true spirit, stressing that terrorism had claimed nearly 100,000 lives in Pakistan.
“We do not want terrorists roaming freely while innocent people are slaughtered in provinces, on trains like the Jaffar Express, or in targeted attacks. We must either surrender to militants or legislate to resist them,” he said.
At the same time, he expressed concern over political victimization and harsh treatment of political leaders. Recalling his own imprisonment, he said he empathized with fellow politicians who had faced degrading treatment.
“When I saw Fawad Chaudhry with a cloth over his face, I condemned it. Today, when I see Shah Mehmood Qureshi in handcuffs, I feel the same grief. No one deserves such treatment,” Siddiqui remarked.
During the same session, the Senate unanimously passed two more bills including Pakistan Land Port Authority Bill, 2025, moved by Minister of State for Interior and Narcotics Muhammad Tallal Badar and Petroleum (Amendment) Bill, 2025, piloted by Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik.
