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Legislative bills

National Assembly Passes Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2024 with Key Provisions to Boost Counter-Terrorism Efforts

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The National Assembly passed the Anti-terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2024 with a majority of votes, incorporating crucial amendments to enhance Pakistan's counter-terrorism capabilities. The bill aims to empower the government, Armed Forces, and Civil Armed Forces to detain individuals posing a significant threat to national security, allowing for preventative detention based on credible information or reasonable suspicion. This move is expected to disrupt terrorist plots and provide law enforcement agencies with the legal backing to conduct more effective operations.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Anti-terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2024 was passed by the National Assembly with a majority of votes, rejecting amendments proposed by JUI-F member Aliya Kamran and incorporating an amendment proposed by PPP member Syed Naveed Qamar.
  • The bill aims to amend the Anti-terrorism Act, 1997 to empower the government, Armed Forces, and Civil Armed Forces to detain individuals posing a significant threat to national security.
  • The bill includes provisions for preventative detention based on credible information or reasonable suspicion, allowing Joint Interrogation Teams (JITs) to conduct comprehensive inquiries and gather actionable intelligence.
  • Minister of State for Interior and Narcotics Control Talal Chauhdry moved the bill, citing the need for a robust response to the current security situation.
  • The National Assembly also passed two other bills: the National School of Public Policy (Amendment) Bill, 2025 and the Petroleum (Amendment) Bill, 2025, after recommendations from the Standing committees concerned.
  • Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhary and Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz moved the respective bills in the House.
  • The statement of objects and reasons of the bill highlights the need to re-insert provisions to empower authorities to uphold national security and counter terrorism effectively.

Statistics:

  • 124 votes in favor and 59 against the motion to consider the bill.
  • 125 votes in favor of adopting the motion to consider the bill.
  • 2 other bills were passed alongside the Anti-terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2024, including the National School of Public Policy (Amendment) Bill, 2025 and the Petroleum (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
  • The Anti-terrorism Act, 1997 underwent proposed amendments to enhance counter-terrorism capabilities in 2024.

Sources:

  • "National Assembly passes Anti-terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2024".
  • The Anti-terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
  • "Two more bills passed in the National Assembly".

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