The bill was moved by Law Minister Farooq H Naek. PHOTO: FILE
The bill, moved by Law Minister Farooq H Naek, amends the Anti-Terrorism Act‚ 1997. It needs to be signed by the President to become an act.
Previously, the National Assembly had unanimously passed the Anti-Terrorism Bill 2013 on February 21, aiming to remove shortcomings in provisions relating to terror financing.
Before Law Minister Farooq H Naek presented the bill in the lower house, Interior Minister Rehman Malik had complained, once again, in the Senate that lawmakers were not able to approve the new anti-terrorism legislation “that has been pending in Parliament for too long now.” This, he said, was one of the hindrances for security agencies in taking effective action against terrorists.
The new bill paves the way for law enforcement agencies to take action against those who finance acts of terrorism and those who benefit from the proceeds of such acts.
Under the new amendment, the definition of terrorism has been revisited to make it more precise. The relatively more ‘general’ definition of terrorism in Pakistan’s ATA 1997 has been criticised by national and international jurists.
In the new definitions, the law substitutes the words “proscribed organisations” with “an organisation concerned [with] terrorism or a terrorist”. It defines “money” as “coins or notes or any currency, postal orders, money orders, bank credits, bank accounts, letter of credit, traveler cheques, bankers’ drafts in any form, electronic, digital or otherwise and such other kinds of monetary instruments or documents as the federal government may by order specify.”
“It was a much-needed legislation, which we should have framed a long time ago,” said National Assembly Speaker Fehmida Mirza.
COMMENTS (11)
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It's never too late.
PPP Government is going to go in few days time, but it will become useful for the incoming government to implement the law.
lets see who gets punished from this bill
You can pass all the bills and amendments you want...point is its useless unless we see some action regarding it.
Constitution and laws are made very thoughtfully and implemented unto the extent that no loop holes are left to evade. Even this amendment doesn't mention of precious metals, stones, drugs etc. and these have been/are used to fulfill the illicit designs by the criminals.
Shame on the parliament. Now? 2 weeks before their demise they pass this bill?
WOW I feel so safe now!
Better late than nerver.
Mashallah Pakistan have so many laws and enactments, but unfortunately not effective government should to implement law strictly, otherwise all in vein
Too late.. still a needed & right one.
Right but toooooooooooooo late
Last time Bill was approved by Nawaz Sharif and he was tried under his own bill, lets see whether history will be repeated this time. :)