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Amnesty International has urged Pakistan to withdraw proposed changes to its anti-terrorism law, warning that they could enable arbitrary detention and heighten risks of human rights abuses.
What is the Anti-Terrorism Act Amendment 2024?
The proposed Bill, introduced in the National Assembly on 1 November 2024 by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, seeks to amend Pakistan’s Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997.
A key feature of the amendment is the reintroduction of “preventive detention”, a measure that had previously expired in 2016 under a sunset clause. If approved, the new provisions would allow the military, police, and paramilitary forces to detain individuals without charge for up to three months.
The Bill includes a two-year validity period, meaning it could remain in force until the end of 2026.
Why is Amnesty International concerned?
Amnesty International has warned that the Bill would give sweeping powers to both civilian and military forces, raising the risk of arbitrary detention and misuse against activists, journalists, and opposition groups.
The organisation said the law does not comply with international human rights standards, particularly Pakistan’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
Amnesty also highlighted the role of the military, noting that when armed forces are deployed domestically, they must remain under civilian command and follow international policing standards. The proposed Bill, it argues, lacks these safeguards.
What does the Constitution say?
Under Pakistan’s Constitution, detainees held under preventive detention should be given reasons for their arrest within 15 days and allowed to challenge the order. However, the new Bill permits authorities to withhold those reasons if disclosure is deemed against the “public interest”.
Amnesty says this provision undermines fundamental rights protected by international law.
How has the law been used in the past?
Pakistan’s anti-terrorism laws have long faced criticism for being overly broad. The UN Human Rights Committee recently raised concerns about their disproportionate impact on ethnic minorities and human rights defenders.
Groups such as the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement and activists from Balochistan have been targeted under previous legislation, with arbitrary arrests and restrictions placed on peaceful political activity.
Amnesty argues that the new amendment could expand these practices with added legal cover.
What happens next?
The Bill has been referred to the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Interior for consideration. Amnesty has called on Pakistan’s Ministry of Law and Justice to withdraw the proposal and instead engage in consultation with civil society to reform the law in line with international human rights standards.
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