Senate Passes Anti-Terrorism Bill 2025
Senate Passes Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill Amid Heated Debate
ISLAMABAD – The Senate on Monday passed the Anti-terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2025, aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s legal framework to counter terrorism. The Bill, introduced by Minister of State for Interior and Narcotics Control Muhammad Tallal Badar, seeks to amend the Anti-terrorism Act, 1997.
During proceedings, Senator Kamran Murtaza proposed several amendments, but the majority of the House rejected them. The Bill was then passed through clause-by-clause reading.
According to the statement of objects and reasons, the amendments are designed to address the current security situation, providing the government, armed forces, and civil armed forces with the authority to detain individuals who pose a significant threat to national security. The legislation allows preventive detention based on credible information or reasonable suspicion, helping disrupt terrorist activities before they occur.
The Bill also facilitates the use of Joint Interrogation Teams (JITs), combining personnel from law enforcement and intelligence agencies to conduct investigations and gather actionable intelligence.
Responding to lawmakers’ queries, Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar highlighted that the amendments, incorporating suggestions from Syed Naveed Qamar, have already undergone judicial scrutiny. A three-year sunset clause has been added, and detainees will be presented before a magistrate within 24 hours under Clause 2 of the amendment.
While PTI’s Barrister Syed Ali Zafar voiced support for anti-terrorism measures, he cautioned that some provisions could conflict with existing law and the Constitution, urging the Bill be referred to a parliamentary committee for further review.
Senator Irfan-ul-Haque Siddiqui stressed that terrorism must not be tolerated. “We cannot allow terrorists to roam freely while innocent people are killed in provinces, on passenger trains like the Jaffar Express, or in targeted attacks,” he said. He urged lawmakers to view anti-terrorism legislation in its proper spirit, noting that nearly 100,000 lives have been lost to terrorism in Pakistan.
Siddiqui also called for transparency in communication with the public and media regarding anti-terror measures and expressed concern over political victimization. Recalling his own experiences with detention, he emphasized that no one should face mistreatment, regardless of political affiliation.
PTI’s Noorul Haq Qadri and JUI-F’s Kamran Murtaza suggested the Bill be referred to the standing committee and, in Qadri’s case, the Council of Islamic Ideology, for detailed review.
Meanwhile, the Senate also unanimously passed two other Bills: the Pakistan Land Port Authority Bill, 2025, piloted by Minister of State Muhammad Tallal Badar, and the Petroleum (Amendment) Bill, 2025, presented by Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik.
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