NHA achieves Rs50 billion revenue surge
The minister also updated senators on the progress regarding the Lowari Tunnel's access roads. He stated that the 33.2 km network is split into two phases. The first phase, covering 18.6 km, was completed in 2010 and has been serving traffic since. The second phase, stretching 14.6 km, saw its southern segment finished in December 2020.
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Express Tribune
an hour ago
- Express Tribune
Forces regain extended detention powers with Senate nod
The Pakistan armed forces reiterated their commitment to eradicating terrorism, emphasising their solidarity with the nation in this ongoing fight. SCREENGRAB Following its passage in the National Assembly, the Senate on Tuesday approved the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill 2025, restoring powers that allow law enforcement agencies and the armed forces to detain suspects for up to three months, a move that sparked uproar from the opposition benches. Minister of State for Interior and Narcotics Control Muhammad Talal Badar tabled the bill, which amends sub-section (1) of Section 11EEEE of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997. According to the amendment, "the government or, where the provisions of Section 4 have been invoked, the armed forces or civil armed forces for a period not exceeding three months and after recording reasons thereof, issue order for the preventative detention of any person." The bill states that persons suspected of activities against national security, including target killing, kidnapping for ransom and extortion, can be detained for three months, adding that it applies "against whom sufficient grounds exist of his having been so concerned, for purpose of inquiry". Detentions extending beyond this threshold will be subject to Article 10 of the Constitution, which provides safeguards with respect to arrest and detention. Under the new arrangement, if a detention order is issued by the army or civil forces, the investigation will be handled by a joint investigation team. "The inquiry will be conducted by no police officer below the rank of Superintendent of Police, Intelligence agencies, civil armed forces, armed forces, and other law enforcing agencies," the bill adds. While JUI-F's Senator Kamran Murtaza attempted to move amendments, they were rejected by majority vote as the House passed the law clause-by-clause. According to its statement of objects, the current security outlook requires "a robust response that goes beyond the existing legal framework". The bill explains that previous powers under Section 11EEEE, which lapsed in 2016 due to a sunset clause, needed to be "re-inserted to empower the government, Armed Forces and Civil Armed Forces with the necessary authority to detain individuals who pose a significant threat to national security". The government contends the provision would allow for preventive detention based on credible information or reasonable suspicion, enabling authorities to disrupt terror plots before they mature. 'Urgency must not eclipse wisdom' Defending the legislation, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar told senators, "Currently, the country is facing the menace of terrorism and amendments proposed by Syed Naveed Qamar have already been incorporated to make it more effective." He pointed out the bill had passed judicial scrutiny and included a three-year sunset clause. He further clarified that under Clause 2 of the amendment, the detainee would have presented before the Magistrate within 24 hours. However, PTI's Barrister Syed Ali Zafar urged caution, stating: "Some of its clauses are against the law and Constitution, so the bill should be referred to the committee." "Today we are being asked to amend one of the most powerful — and most controversial — laws in our statute book: the Anti-Terrorism Act," the opposition lawmaker said, adding that the law first came into being under extraordinary circumstances to protect Pakistan from extraordinary threats. "But as lawmakers, we must always remember: every extraordinary power given to the state can both be used and misused," he cautioned. He acknowledged that the anti-terrorism act was made to get rid of the menace of terrorism, which had destroyed the peace of the nation. "There is no doubt that we have to eradicate terrorism from the country and punish the terrorists. There is also no doubt that we will fight against terrorism till the last and that together we will win this battle." However, he cautioned that "urgency must not eclipse wisdom". Barrister Ali Zafar further pointed out that the Supreme Court had examined the provisions of the existing anti-terrorism act and decided that many of its provisions were against the constitution. "It was only after that that the present law was passed, and hence there is no room for any changes in it. By adding any provision in the existing law and making it more draconian, it will only become unconstitutional." He lamented that the amendment proposes that even an SHO and detain anybody for a period of three months in prison, and the person in prison will have no recourse to the courts. "The government can call anyone a terrorist on the grounds of public order and imprison them," he warned. "We must ask ourselves: will this amendment make Pakistan safer, or will it weaken the constitutional rights we swore an oath to protect?" "Our duty is twofold: on the one hand, to protect the lives of our citizens from the scourge of terrorism; on the other, to defend those constitutional freedoms without which Pakistan cannot remain a democratic state," he stressed. "We have to do a balancing act. Security will have to be balanced against liberty and power against accountability," he added. 'No softness toward militancy' PML-N Senator Irfanul Haque Siddiqui argued that no softness could be shown toward armed militancy. "We do not want terrorists roaming freely while innocent people are slaughtered... These acts weaken our federation and create mistrust between the people and the state." He said lawmakers must either surrender to militants or legislate to resist them, arguing such measures can "prevent crime and also curb forced disappearances and arbitrary detentions". Siddiqui appealed for viewing anti-terror legislation in good faith rather than as a political stick, stressing the need for transparent government-opposition communication with the public and media.
Business Recorder
5 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Senate passes Anti-Terrorism Bill amid opposition walkout
ISLAMABAD: Amidst strong opposition, the Senate, Tuesday, passed three government bills including the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2025, that allows detention of suspects at the hands of law enforcement agencies for more than three months. On the last day of the 353rd session, State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry presented the bill in the House that met strong opposition. Last week, the bill was passed by the National Assembly where it faced strong opposition too. In the Senate meeting, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Parliamentary Leader Ali Zafar criticised the powers given to the law enforcement agencies to detain any suspect without presenting them in a court of law for three months. 'The country is burning in the fire of terrorism,' responded Law Minister Azam Tarar, defending the bill, saying it aimed at countering terrorism. Kamran Murtaza from Jamiat Uelma-e-Islam Fazal (JUI-F) criticised the treasury side for presenting the bill for passage without having it referred to the relevant committee first. 'Heavens would not have fallen had this bill been referred to the committee,' he said. The bill was finally passed by the House by majority vote following which the PTI staged a walkout from the House in protest. The Section 3(a)(1) of the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill 2025 provides that the government or— the armed forces or civil armed forces - for a period not exceeding three months - issue an order for the preventative detention of any person who has been concerned in 'any offence under this Act relating to the security or defence of Pakistan or any part thereof, or public order relating to target killing, kidnapping for ransom, and extortion, bhatta, or the maintenance of supplies or services, or against whom a reasonable complaint has been made or credible information has been received, or a reasonable suspicion exists of his having been so concerned, for purpose of inquiry: Provided that the detention of such person, including detention for a further period after three months, shall be subject to the provision of Article l0 of the Constitution.' The Section 3(b) of the bill says, 'Provided that where the detention order has been issued by the armed forces or civil armed forces under Sub-section (1), the inquiry shall be conducted by a joint investigation team (JIT) comprising of a police officer not below the rank of superintendent of police, intelligence agencies, civil armed forces, armed forces, and other law enforcing agencies.' The Section 3(c) of this bill says that Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2025 shall remain in force for a period of three years from its commencement. Apart from Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Act, 2025, the other two bills passed by the House were Petroleum (Amendment) Bill, 2025 and Pakistan Land Port Authority Bill, 2025. The Petroleum (Amendment) Bill, 2025 aims at introducing 'IT-based tracking of petroleum products, to curb the smuggling of petroleum products.' The Pakistan Land Port Authority Bill, 2025 aims to 'establish a land port authority to provide and administer an integrated system of facilities for cross-border movement of goods and passengers at land ports in Pakistan and to make provision for its operation, management, development of land port and matters connected therewith and ancillary matter.' Through resolutions, the Senate extended the Capital Development Authority Amendment Ordinance 2025 and the National Agri-Trade and Food Safety Authority Ordinance, 2025 for 120 days. Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry, in a written reply shared in the Senate Question House, said that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) dismissed its 51 employees in the last three years for 'suspected collusion with human smugglers.' The Senate is prorogued. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
a day ago
- Business Recorder
Minister admits loopholes in implementation of laws
ISLAMABAD: Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar, on Monday, admitted that loopholes in the implementation of existing laws were allowing perpetrators of crimes such as honour killings to escape punishment. He cited cases where families misused reconciliation provisions under Section 345 of the Code of Criminal Procedure to protect offenders. Winding up a Senate debate on a motion moved by Senator Sherry Rehman regarding the rise in gender-based violence (GBV), the minister said the statistics shared in the House were 'deeply concerning' but stressed the need for a balanced approach. He noted that Pakistan already had an overburdened legal framework and said private member bills, particularly those related to criminal law, must be carefully reviewed. On domestic violence, he pointed out that while all provinces had enacted relevant laws, Islamabad was still awaiting its own legislation. The minister admitted that weak investigations, poor case preparation, and lack of coordination between police and prosecution were major reasons for low conviction rates. He urged that prosecutors should be involved from the investigation stage to ensure fair trials. He also acknowledged that family pressure and societal attitudes often forced survivors to withdraw complaints. Other senators, including Mohsin Aziz, Syed Ali Zafar, Danesh Kumar, Rubina Khalid, and Bilal Ahmed Khan, called for stronger implementation of laws and better protection for vulnerable groups. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
