ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has signed into law the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill 2025, following its passage by both houses of parliament.
According to a statement issued by the Presidency, the new legislation aims to strengthen the capacity of security institutions to combat terrorism while ensuring transparency, accountability, and judicial oversight. The law also carries a three-year sunset clause, limiting its validity to a fixed term.
The amendment specifies that no individual can be detained without concrete evidence, while detention beyond three months will require a valid justification. It empowers the armed forces and civil armed forces to hold individuals in preventive detention for up to three months in the interest of national security, defense, or public order. Offenses such as kidnapping for ransom and targeted killings fall under the scope of the law.
The duration of detention may be extended under Article 10 of the Constitution, and investigations will be carried out by a Joint Investigation Team (JIT). The amendment will remain in force for three years.
The bill has already sparked political debate. Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) leader Hafiz Hamdullah strongly criticized its passage in both houses, calling it “a slap on the face of the Constitution and democracy.”
The government, however, maintains that the law is a crucial step in addressing Pakistan’s security challenges.
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