ISLAMABAD: The controversial Protection of Pakistan Bill (PPB) 2014, was approved by Pakistans National Assembly (NA) on Wednesday, 2 July, which widens the scope of powers of law enforcement agencies to shoot down a suspect, arrest them without warrant or keep them in custody for up to 60 days.
The bill which will become an Act of Parliament once it is ratified by the president, was unanimously passed by the Senate on June 30, albeit grudgingly between the government and the opposition.
The Bill, bitterly opposed by human rights groups who fear its likely abuse was cleared with majority approval by the NA, although, the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) opposed the legislation and the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) abstained from voting. Critics believe, the provisions of the amended version of the Bill are rife with opportunities for misuse especially while a major military operation is ongoing in North Waziristan.
The reason for concern are evident from the seemingly disproportionate powers that it vests law enforcement agencies with: For instance, punishment for scheduled offences under this legislation has been increased from ten to twenty years. Crimes such as murder, kidnapping, extortion, assault or attack on members of the parliament, judiciary, executive, media and other important personalities, crimes against ethnic, religious and political groups, cyber crimes- all these are now classified as scheduled offences under the ambit of the new legislation.
The law would become applicable in the event of waging of war against Pakistan, its amended form reads, waging of war or insurrection against Pakistan. Additionally, the term enemy alien describes a person whose identity as a Pakistani is unascertainable. The bill, defines the word militant to mean any person who wages war or indulges in insurrection against Pakistan, raises arms against Pakistan, its citizens, the armed forces or civil armed forces, commits or threatens to commit any scheduled offence.
Once signed by the president, the new law will remain in force in Pakistan for a duration of two years. The News reports that Minister of Science and Technology Zahid Hamid presented the bill in the assembly, where Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was also present. Hamid, who presented the bill in the senate, in the absence of Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said the passage of the bill was of utmost importance in light of the military operation in North Waziristan, codenamed Zarb-e-Azb.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi (PTI) and Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad said the Interior Minister should have been present when such an important legislation was being decided.
Highlighting the salient features of the amended PPB, Zahid Hamid said that special courts will be established under this bill to ensure greater conviction in scheduled offences.
Under the amended bill, punishment in scheduled offences has been increased from ten to twenty years while remand period has been curtailed to 60 days from the previous 90 days.
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