Pakistan President Signs Controversial Anti-Terror Bill Amid Civil Liberties Concerns

Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday signed into law the Anti-Terror (Amendment) Bill, 2025, restoring sweeping powers of preventive detention.

The legislation, passed earlier this month by both the National Assembly and Senate, revives provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) of 1997 that had previously lapsed.

The amended law authorises federal authorities and the armed forces, when acting under government orders, to detain individuals for up to three months without charges if suspected of threatening ‘national security’ or ‘public safety’.

Officials have defended the amendment, arguing it is a vital tool to curb militancy, extortion rackets, and kidnappings for ransom.

Critics of Arbitrary Detentions

Rights groups and opposition leaders condemned the law, warning that its vague language legitimises arbitrary detention and risks silencing dissent.

Analysts noted that Pakistan’s counterterrorism laws have historically extended beyond militant threats, ensnaring political activists, student groups, journalists, and minority communities.

One of the most contentious provisions is the reliance on ‘preventive detention’ based on ‘credible information or reasonable suspicion’.

Critics argue that such elastic terms open the door to abuse, mass sweeps, and repression.

“Authorities can act on vague suspicion, which makes ordinary citizens vulnerable,” the European Times reported.

The amendment explicitly extends detention powers to the armed forces, further reinforcing the military’s dominant role in Pakistan’s political and civic life. Analysts warn that these risks are deepening concerns over the militarisation of governance.

Impact on Marginalised Communities

Observers highlighted that counterterrorism campaigns in Pakistan have often targeted ethnic and sectarian minorities. Baloch, Pashtun, and other marginalised groups labelled as ‘security threats’ may face increased repression under the new amendment.

By signing the bill, President Zardari reaffirmed what critics describe as a pattern of prioritising state security over civil rights.

The government says the amendment will boost counterterrorism, but rights advocates warn it exposes Pakistanis to arbitrary state power.

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