Despite the National Assembly appearing like a classroom full of rowdy children, the House on Thursday passed the crucial yet controversial “The Investigation for Fair Trial Bill 2012”, which authorises the state to intercept private communication in order to hunt down terrorists and could expose public privacy and civil liberty to greater threats.
The 48th session of the National Assembly was opened by NA Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi, during which the Investigation for Fair Trial Act 2012, recently approved by the NA Law and Justice Committee despite heavy opposition – was tabled by Federal Minister for Law and Justice Farooq H Naik.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) put up strong resistance against the tabling of the controversial bill, calling it an attempt to curb civil liberties, people’s privacy and a tool for victimisation and blackmail.
The bill was approved after incorporating amendments proposed by the PML-N and MQM during clause-to-clause reading, with inclusion of 30 PML-N clauses that were presented by Zahid Hamid and Anusha Rehman.
However, three amendments suggested by the PML-N in the draft of the bill were rejected. “We in principle support the bill,” Zahid Hamid informed the House while debating the legislation, “as it is the need of time to control terrorism and to prevent more civilian and military losses.” “However, we want this bill to be approved with some amendments ensuring the fundamental rights of civil liberties and privacy of citizens with some checks and balances to make it more effective and unquestionable,” Hamid added.
He said it was for the first time that investigation against an alleged accused would be initiated, clipped with collection of evidences, prior to the registration of an FIR, and the party believed, there should be some criteria and permissions that might not affect the privacy. Anusha Rehman questioned who would ensure the privacy of the person accused prior to proven guilty.
