President Zardari signs Fair Trial Bill 2012 into law

The bill puts civil liberties under threat.

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari signed the Fair Trial Bill 2012 into law on Wednesday, which empowers Pakistan's spy agencies to intercept private communications in order to catch terrorists.

Under the new law, intelligence and law enforcement agencies will now be able to tap phone calls, emails, SMS, internet communication and conduct human intelligence of any individual on suspicion of their involvement in terrorist activities. The evidence collected through such surveillance will also be admissible in a court of law, subject to issuance of prior surveillance warrants by a judge.

The bill, which was originally passed in December 2012, had triggered a controversy after certain quarters felt that the wire-tapping powers would threaten privacy and civil liberties.

However, the Senate unanimously passed the ordinance on February 1 despite objections from both the opposition as well as government allies.

Earlier, the bill had been contested by sections of the civil society that view this bill as a fundamental compromise on the civil liberties of Pakistani citizens.

The president also signed the Trade Organisation Bill 2012 today.

The bill aims to ensure appropriate representation of all genders at all levels in trade organisations.