The Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs would brief Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani on the fresh proposed amendments in the draft Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2010 today (Tuesday).
The bill, that proposes more stringent measures against terrorists and law breakers in the wake of terrorist activities in the country, has been in the eye of controversy for the last one year and is pending with the Senate Standing Committee on Interior. Committee Chairman Senator Talha Mahmood, who belongs to the JUI-F, seems reluctant in passing the bill, as he sees some of the clauses of the proposed bill in violation of human rights. According to sources in the interior ministry, some of the fresh amendments in the draft bill relate to enhancement in punishment of extortion to 14 years. One specific amendment proposed, “The applicability of act may be extended to the citizen of Pakistan and person in service of Pakistan where ever they may be, including person on Pakistan flagship and aircraft.”
The fresh amendments tagged as ‘legal proposals’ by the Law Ministry propose that Section 6 of the draft Bill may be amended to add that “any action or intention to threaten the sovereignty, integrity, security, defence and unity of Pakistan to be included in the offence of terrorism”.
Another amendment proposes that the punishment provided for enticing public in religious gathering may be enhanced, as the same will prove a deterrent in nurturing madrassa culture. The legal proposals further said “specific time period should be given in the act for the conclusion of the trial by the ATA courts and the same shall be implemented religiously”. It said “Section 21 shall be amended to provide for authorization to keep the names of the judges, prosecutors and witnesses secret even from the accused”.