The Federal Cabinet approved the draft of amendments in the anti-terrorism bill on Friday.
The bill was presented by Federal Minister for Science and Technology, Zahid Hamid, and calls for terrorists to be held accountable at all costs.
The amendment suggests that witnesses and prosecutors in cases related to terrorism should also be provided security. Intelligence and security agencies can be requested to provide support during the interrogation of terrorism suspects. The bill also includes an amendment that necessitates swift proceedings in terrorism cases and suspects in such cases can be held in custody for 90 days.
The bill is aimed at curbing the menace of terrorism and giving more powers to Rangers.
At the beginning of the meeting, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that the targeted operation in Karachi was yielding positive results. He hoped for a positive outcome from this amendment as the common man is satisfied with the targeted action.
He directed the federal government institutions to cooperate fully with the Sindh government to restore law and order in Karachi.
The Prime Minister took notice of the absence of some federal ministers from the National Assembly and Senate and said that strict action will be taken against those ministers who will be absent from the concerned House.
During the cabinet meeting‚ Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, raised the issue, saying that the absence of the ministers from the Parliamentary session gave a bad name to the government and this practice should be checked.
The Prime Minister said that it is responsibility of the ministers to ensure their presence in both the houses of the parliament and respond to the queries of the members regarding public and national issues.
