New Pakistan anti-terror law raises fears over civil rights

Pakistan has passed a law giving security forces sweeping powers to clamp down on terrorism, but many activists and politicians have described the provisions as draconian.

The new legislation adopted on Wednesday grants police officers the power to shoot and kill alleged terrorists and detain suspects for questioning for up to 60 days without charge.

It also allows prisoners to be held at secret facilities, and the police to carry out warrantless searches.

The legislation, known as the Protection of Pakistan Ordinance, must now be signed into law by the president.

Parliament passed the bill despite considerable opposition, with the pro-lobby citing a need to show solidarity with the army and its military offensive.

"The government of Nawaz Sharif managed to sneak this bill through parliament,” said Tahrira Abdullah, a human-rights activist. “The police and armed forces are now able to shoot people if they see them committing a crime, or suspect them of wanting to commit a crime in the future. This has huge implications for human rights."

The debate over the law follows months of deadly Pakistani Taliban attacks and this month's offensive by the Pakistani military against sanctuaries in the remote border region of North Waziristan.

Nearly half a million people have fled North Waziristan since the military launched a ground offensive against the Pakistani Taliban late last month.

Opposition senators had managed to water down some of the law's most punitive clauses, said Sen. Afrasiab Khattak.

"It is still a very harsh law though," Khattak said by telephone. "We will be raising these issues again when the law comes up for renewal in two years."

The revised legislation, he said, allows suspects to be held for questioning for 60 days without charges, rather than the 15 days presently permitted. Senior police officers will be empowered to issue orders to shoot to kill suspects.

It allows prisoners to be held at secret facilities but provides for some judicial oversight. Warrantless searches are allowed, but the evidence and cause must be presented in court within two days.

In its original form, the bill was far more harsh.

The new legislation is intended to replace Pakistan's outdated 1997 law, which has been the main piece of legislation used to counter armed groups in the country.

But Fawad Chaudhry, a media adviser for the opposition Pakistan People's Party, told Reuters news agency the old law had not been used properly and he doubted that this one would be either.

Hundreds of Pakistanis have been held for years in secret prisons without being charged. Extra-judicial killings by the security forces are also common.

"The passing of legislation is hardly a problem. The problem is the implementation," Chaudhry said.

Pakistani courts rarely convict high-profile militants. Police are not properly trained how to gather evidence, and judges and prosecutors are frequently subjected to death threats.

Chaudhry said sometimes court officials also were sympathetic to militant aims.

Al Jazeera and wire services