Asma terms PPO a ‘draconian law’

• Former SCBA president says ‘half truths will not work’ and govt must declare details of Taliban prisoners freed recently

Former president of Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and human rights activist Asma Jehangir has termed the Protection of Pakistan Ordinance (PPO) 2014 as a draconian law.

In a press statement issued on Tuesday, she said “the present government must reflect on its policies towards countering terror. On the one hand, the government has released persons arrested on charges of terrorism and on the other hand it has passed a draconian law, the PPA 2014”. She of the view that the law denies basic rights to anyone suspected of crimes given in the schedule, which include acts of terrorism. Eventually, by both these actions, the ordinary people of Pakistan will suffer the most and the rule of law will gradually give way to the rule of guns, she said.

The human rights activist added that lawyers and judges as well as investigation officers take huge risks when a terrorist is investigated, prosecuted and finally convicted. They face daily threats and a number have been attacked or killed in this process.

“Releasing dangerous prisoners has demoralised all institutions connected with the administration of justice. Why should people risk their lives to protect others when their own government is easily pressurised and misled out of fear to release prisoners accused of extremely serious criminal acts?” she questioned, adding that the entire legal fraternity is aware that the released prisoners were no more innocent than those left behind bars.

“The government should disclose the names of those released and the accusations against them and then explain how they came to the conclusion that the persons they released were actually non-combatants. These half truths will not work,” she said.

There is no doubt that any security force will require a stable legal system and a framework of legislation to carry out an effective counter-terrorism operation. However, the law has to be balanced, protect fundamental rights and maintain due process, especially as no part of Pakistan has been declared to be a conflict zone.