ISLAMABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain on Friday signed the Protection of Pakistan Bill 2014 into a law, Express News reported.
The new law, which Human Rights Watch (HRW) says violates Pakistan's international legal obligations, is tough on terror and doubles the maximum sentence for terror offences to 20 years.
It also allows security forces to hold suspects for up to 60 days without disclosing their whereabouts or allegations against them.
The PPB will be applicable for the next two years.
The National Assembly passed the bill on July 2, two days after it was unanimously passed in the Senate.
The government had failed to get all members of the opposition on board, as the Jamat-e-Islami opposed the bill in the National Assembly while the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) abstained from voting.
The law also faced resistance from the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), which condemned the government for passing the PPB.
The bill has been referred to as controversial, repressive and even draconian.
COMMENTS (7)
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American passed the Patriot Act within 1 year of 9/11. It has taken Pakistan 10 years to pass a similar law which is required to fight terrorism.
Why only 2 years. ..it should be applicable forever
I doubt those who voted on the bill even bothered to read it ! Welcome to the Islamic Police State of Pakistan
India should have similar bill.
Haha! I bet this guy doesn't even have the slightest clue what the bill was all about in the first place. I'm ashamed to be a citizen of this country.
Oh ! Pakistan has the PRESIDENT.
Finally, the legal authority the government needs to fight and end terrorism.