ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday formally signed the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2025, introducing significant changes to Pakistan’s counter-terrorism legal framework. The amendments aim to strengthen the state’s ability to tackle militancy and violent extremism while placing safeguards to prevent the misuse of authority, a longstanding concern in the country’s counter-terrorism regime.
The bill, which was passed earlier this month by both houses of Parliament amid strong opposition protests, reintroduces provisions allowing law enforcement agencies and the armed forces to detain suspects for up to three months under specific conditions. This measure, originally part of Section 11EEEE of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, had lapsed in previous years but has now been restored with additional clauses mandating judicial oversight.
According to the Presidency’s statement, the law strengthens the ability of security agencies to prevent terrorism and protect national security, while also providing judicial oversight and safeguards to guard against arbitrary detention. The amendments specify that detention orders must record detailed reasons and remain subject to Article 10 of the Constitution, which guarantees protections against unlawful arrest and detention.
The law further stipulates that if the armed forces or civil armed forces issue a detention order, investigations will be conducted by a Joint Investigation Team comprising senior police officers, intelligence officials, and representatives from relevant security agencies. No police officer below the rank of superintendent will be allowed to lead inquiries, reflecting an effort to professionalize and regulate investigative procedures.
The amendments explicitly target individuals suspected of involvement in terrorist plotting, targeted killings, kidnappings for ransom, or extortion, as well as those deemed a threat to Pakistan’s national security. Preventive detention, supporters argue, will allow authorities to disrupt terrorist activities before they are carried out, thereby saving lives and reducing instability.
The statement of objects and reasons presented in Parliament highlighted Pakistan’s evolving security challenges, particularly the resurgence of militant groups in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. It stated that the country’s current legal framework was insufficient to meet these threats, hence the need to reinsert stronger provisions empowering both the government and security forces.
Critics, however, have warned that such sweeping powers have historically been misused, leading to arbitrary detentions, harassment of political workers, and violations of fundamental rights. Past practices under the ATA have drawn criticism from human rights groups for bypassing due process and enabling enforced disappearances. To address these concerns, the new law incorporates provisions for judicial review and legal recourse for detainees, though opposition parties argue the safeguards remain weak in practice.
Supporters of the amendments contend that the inclusion of JITs and constitutional oversight mechanisms distinguishes the 2025 reforms from earlier iterations of Section 11EEEE. They argue the law provides security agencies with a stronger but more accountable legal tool in combating terrorism.
The passage of this bill underscores Pakistan’s continuing struggle to balance national security imperatives with human rights protections, a dilemma that has defined much of its counter-terrorism policy since the 1990s. With militancy once again on the rise, the government insists the law is a necessary step to prevent violence and stabilize the country, while rights advocates remain cautious about its potential misuse.
