Government faces fight over tough anti-terror law

[Durrak]

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani government is facing a battle to enact a tough anti-terror law that rights activists and opposition parties have attacked as repressive.The Protection of Pakistan Ordinance allows security forces to detain suspects for up to 90 days without disclosing their whereabouts or the allegations against them.Anyone arrested under the new law must prove
their innocence -- reversing the usual legal burden of proof -- and satisfy courts they are not engaged in terror activities.The government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif introduced the legislation in a bid to urb the violence and instability blighting the nuclear-armed state.
Pakistan has been in the grip of a homegrown Taliban insurgency since 2007, with more than 6,800 people killed in bomb and gun attacks according to an AFP tally.
Law enforcement agencies and the sclerotic courts system have struggled to make any impact on the violence.The lower house of parliament approved the new bill earlier this week. But the main
opposition Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) says it will fight to block it in the upper house, where it holds sway."Pakistan will become a police state," senior PPP senator Farhatullah Babar told on Friday.
He warned the law effectively legitimises enforced disappearances -- an issue on which rights groups routinely criticise Pakistan.
Campaigners say up to 2,000 people have disappeared into custody of the security services, many from Balochistan."It also legitimises extrajudicial killings,
because the law authorises the police and the military to shoot anybody on the basis of reasonable suspicion, without evidence," Babar said.Human Rights Watch (HRW) urged the Pakistani Senate to reject the law in its current form and send it back to the National Assembly for
amendments."The Protection of Pakistan Ordinance as drafted runs roughshod over rights provided under international law as well as Pakistan´s constitution," HRW’s Brad Adams said in a
statement.Mushahid Hussain, the chairman of the Senate defence committee, said he did not think the bill could be passed in its current form."There is unlimited authority given to the security forces and police for shoot-to-kill
orders. This authority can be abuse. So we find this unacceptable," he told.If the Senate and National Assembly cannotagree on amendments, a joint session of both houses may be called to debate the matter.
Even if it is passed, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) has vowed to challenge it in the Supreme Court.

@Oscar @A.Rafay @Talon @Hyperion @Aeronaut @Armstrong @Multani @BATMAN @Leader @Jazzbot @Areesh @balixd @DESERT FIGHTER @Jungibaaz @Azlan Haider @cb4 and others

 

[A.Rafay]

This law is need of the hour, the courts are setting terrorists free. We need a strong law to punish criminal and militants.

 

[Khan_patriot]

I dont know what kind of person will oppose such a law, we are in a state of war and such measures need to be taken if we are to survive as a nation, I feel really enraged when people politicize such necessary things, if I had my way I would have enacted this bill years ago.....

 

[Jaanbaz]

There are many laws in Pakistan. There is a constitution but there is no one ready to enforce these laws. It is our weakness of law enforcement agencies failure. The blame lies on all sections institutions of Pakistan. Corruption has marred and put this nation back into stone ages.

 

[Leader]

This law is need of the hour, the courts are setting terrorists free. We need a strong law to punish criminal and militants.

This doesnot seem like a law, its giving unaccounted power, which is bound to be misused.. besides it should have been properly debated in parliament.

good to see PTI/MQM/PPP taking a stand against it.

PTI even going to go to supreme court against it.

 

[Durrak]

This doesnot seem like a law, its giving unaccounted power, which is bound to be misused.. besides it should have been properly debated in parliament.

good to see PTI/MQM/PPP taking a stand against it.

PTI even going to go to supreme court against it.

Some of the countries have this law and they are in far better condition than Pakistan. Don't you think we need this law in current scenario?

 

[A.Rafay]

Some of the countries have this law and they are in far better condition than Pakistan. Don't you think we need this law in current scenario?

I disagree with your stance @Leader and PTIs on this issue. In present status of our country we need this law as @M-48 said.

 

[Leader]

Some of the countries have this law and they are in far better condition than Pakistan. Don't you think we need this law in current scenario?

for example? and do quote the source of the law. I doubt any reasonable country having such laws. besides I question the use of it, getting it passed without a debate with further empowerment of the law enforcement agencies seems a hasty decision, especially when it doesnot provide any punishment on the misuse of it. the reality is that everyone other than a Punjabi Pakistani is potentially a traitor as it applies to the whole of Pakistan, not in war zone.

by the way TADA laws in India of same nature, Pakistan opposed vigorously !

 

[DESERT FIGHTER]

This bill should be approved... we need it!!!!!

 

[Pakistanisage]

If this INCOMPETENT Civilian government cannot get the job done and eliminate terrorism then they should let the Military take over and run the Country.

 

[Dubious]

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani government is facing a battle to enact a tough anti-terror law that rights activists and opposition parties have attacked as repressive.The Protection of Pakistan Ordinance allows security forces to detain suspects for up to 90 days without disclosing their whereabouts or the allegations against them.Anyone arrested under the new law must prove their innocence -- reversing the usual legal burden of proof -- and satisfy courts they are not engaged in terror activities.The government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif introduced the legislation in a bid to urb the violence and instability blighting the nuclear-armed state.

How is one "detained" supposed to prove their innocence? Sounds like NS is afraid someone is gonna nab him!

Pakistan has been in the grip of a homegrown Taliban insurgency since 2007, with more than 6,800 people killed in bomb and gun attacks according to an AFP tally.
Law enforcement agencies and the sclerotic courts system have struggled to make any impact on the violence.The lower house of parliament approved the new bill earlier this week. But the main opposition Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) says it will fight to block it in the upper house, where it holds sway."Pakistan will become a police state," senior PPP senator Farhatullah Babar told on Friday.
He warned the law effectively legitimises enforced disappearances -- an issue on which rights groups routinely criticise Pakistan.

Seriously many bastards will abuse this power!

Campaigners say up to 2,000 people have disappeared into custody of the security services, many from Balochistan."It also legitimises extrajudicial killings,because the law authorises the police and the military to shoot anybody on the basis of reasonable suspicion, without evidence," Babar said.

How many times have minorities and the poor suffered when assholes use laws like this to protect their *** esp when they are the ones who do the bad shit?!

Human Rights Watch (HRW) urged the Pakistani Senate to reject the law in its current form and send it back to the National Assembly for amendments."The Protection of Pakistan Ordinance as drafted runs roughshod over rights provided under international law as well as Pakistan´s constitution," HRW’s Brad Adams said in a
statement.Mushahid Hussain, the chairman of the Senate defence committee, said he did not think the bill could be passed in its current form."There is unlimited authority given to the security forces and police for shoot-to-kill
orders. This authority can be abuse. So we find this unacceptable," he told.If the Senate and National Assembly cannotagree on amendments, a joint session of both houses may be called to debate the matter.
Even if it is passed, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) has vowed to challenge it in the Supreme Court.

@Oscar @A.Rafay @Talon @Hyperion @Aeronaut @Armstrong @Multani @BATMAN @Leader @Jazzbot @Areesh @balixd @DESERT FIGHTER @Jungibaaz @Azlan Haider @cb4 and others

With mentally retarded people on the top abuse is the 1st thing that is scary!

 

[Durrak]

I read about countries having this law on twitter but it is not reliable source.

Canadian Anti-Terrorism Act - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Jazzbot]

This law is need of the hour, otherwise the courts will keep releasing these murderers and terrorists due to lack of evidence. Every country fighting with insurgency or terrorism has this kind of law.

 

[farhanalee7]

Anything Against terrorists is a need... But it can be hazardous for peace talks... Govt should Wait till the end of seize fire..

 

[Dubious]

This law is need of the hour, otherwise the courts will keep releasing these murderers and terrorists due to lack of evidence. Every country fighting with insurgency or terrorism has this kind of law.

Anything Against terrorists is a need... But it can be hazardous for peace talks... Govt should Wait till the end of seize fire..

Even with the law they will release whom they want to release! Unless we have a special unit who really fights for the country and not the money....

Sadly everyone from the chaprasi to the top most asshole can be bought!