Islamabad – The Anti-Terrorism Amendment Bill 2025 is a major legislative step taken by the Pakistani Senate to enhance the ability of the state to combat terrorism, as well as safeguard the national security.

This amendment will be implemented for a three-year span which shows that the amendment is focused on solving the urgent security issues.

Main Points of the Bill

Among the main points that the bill puts forward is the power of law enforcement and security agencies to take suspects under protective custody under which they can keep them for no more than three months.

As indicated in the text of the bill, the main aim is to strengthen the capacity of the state to handle people who engage in acts that pose a danger to national security, defence, peace and order. The new law also particularly targets those involved in such heinous activities like kidnapping for ransom and target killing.

The legal framework is designed to provide a stronger mechanism to support intelligence-led operations and proactive security within a country that has been on the frontline in the war against terrorism across the globe.

The armed forces or civil armed forces under the amendment now have the powers to detain anyone in protective custody. An important detail of the legislation is that it provides judicial oversight and investigation process to make sure that it is not misused.

According to the text of the bill, no one can be arrested without solid evidence. It is a protection that seeks to strike a balance between the necessity of greater security powers and civil liberties and due process which was the key consideration of the argument about the ratification of the bill.

In Article 10 of the bill, the period of protective custody can be prolonged in case the joint investigation team has enough reasons to extend it.

Formation of Joint Investigative Team

The law also provides an orderly method of investigation of arrested persons. An investigation committee will be formed which will be required to carry out extensive investigations against anyone who is in protective custody.

According to the text of the bill, this team will include the representatives of different security and law enforcement agencies. This joint team will consist of police officers of the SP (Superintendent of Police) rank, intelligence service personnel, civil armed forces, the armed forces and other concerned law enforcement agencies.

This multi-agency plan is meant to facilitate a thorough and well-integrated investigation into the purported activities of the suspect.

Voices of Opposition

The bill stirred up controversy when it passed with a crying and protesting opposition raising concerns that the bill was meant to limit inherent freedoms. The bill, which was already passed by National Assembly, was scheduled into immediate consideration by the Senate without referring it to the competent standing committee.

Pakistan Tehreek-e Insaf (PTI) Parliamentary Leader Barrister Syed Ali Zafar came out in a strong opposition saying that the amendment would give the law enforcement the right to detain a person up to six months without any cogent reasons and without the right to seek any legal remedy.

He was worried that the law would turn into a contravention of fundamental constitutional rights, such as Articles 9, 10A, 15, and 19 and cautioned that urgency should not overshadow wisdom.

In protest, PTI and JUIF members of parliament walked out of the Senate following the vote to reject the bill.

The law minister Azam Nazeer Tarar justified the amendments citing that the country was threatened by extreme forms of terrorism and that such amendments were needed. He argued the bill had already withstood judicial review and included a three-year sunset clause, among other protections.

Tarar explained that armed forces were only allowed to utilize preventive detention where it is operating in aid of civil power and with the agreement of the particular government. He further stipulated that persons in custody should be appeared before a magistrate within 24 hours of their arrest.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Parliamentary Leader Sherry Rehman, in support of the bill, said that her party had added a few safeguards to the bill that included a right of appeal and review and a clear definition of who will be considered as a terrorist as the bill was similar to a bill passed earlier after the Army Public School attack.