Senate Approves Anti-Terrorism Act Amendment Allowing Three-Month Detention

Islamabad, August 20, 2025 — Following the National Assembly’s approval last week, the Senate on Tuesday passed an amendment to the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) 1997, restoring powers to law enforcement agencies (LEAs) and the armed forces to detain individuals for up to 90 days. The move sparked strong protests from opposition benches.

The bill, titled the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill 2025, was presented in the Upper House by Minister of State for Interior and Narcotics Control, Muhammad Tallal Badar, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP).

What the Bill States

The official text of the amendment reads:

“The government or, where the provisions of section 4 have been invoked, the armed forces or civil armed forces may, through a specific or general order of the government, authorise preventive detention of any person for a maximum period of three months, provided the reasons are duly recorded.”

Debate in the Senate

During the heated session, Senator Mushtaq Ahmed Siddiqui stressed that such legislation should not be seen as a tool against political opponents.

“These measures are meant to combat terrorism. Either we bow down to militants or we legislate to fight them. Pakistan has sacrificed nearly 100,000 lives to terrorism. Laws like this can help prevent crime while ensuring accountability in cases of enforced disappearances,” he remarked.

He further urged the government and opposition to maintain transparent communication with citizens and the media regarding sensitive legislation.

Meanwhile, PPP Senator Sherry Rehman emphasized that her party had carefully reviewed the draft before supporting it.

“Our legislative committee examined all provisions. This is the same framework that all political parties had agreed upon after the tragic Army Public School attack in Peshawar, and it remained in place for two years,” she said.

However, she cautioned that preventive detention should never be taken lightly.

“Many of us have faced the issue of missing persons firsthand. I request the law minister to publicly clarify the definitions in this bill so that civil society and opposition parties are assured of its transparent application,” Rehman added.

Background of the Law

The ATA’s Section 11EEEE, first amended in 2014, had given similar preventive detention powers to the military and civil armed forces. However, it carried a two-year sunset clause that expired in 2016.

In November 2024, the government quietly reintroduced the measure in the National Assembly, seeking to reinstate the authority of security forces to keep individuals suspected of terrorism under preventive detention for up to three months.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has voiced concerns over the amendment, warning that unchecked powers could increase risks of abuse and enforced disappearances.