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Security officials inspect the blast site in southern Pakistani port city of Karachi on Friday. Photo: Xinhua

Pakistan’s new terror law ‘green light for abuse’, says HRW

A tough anti-terror law gives a "green light for abusing suspects" and should be withdrawn, rights group Human Rights Watch says.

AFP

A tough anti-terror law gives a "green light for abusing suspects" and should be withdrawn, a rights group says.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) said the Protection of Pakistan Bill, passed by the national parliament on Wednesday, violated international legal obligations.

The restive nuclear-armed country has wrestled for years with home-grown Islamist militants, but its slow and at times dysfunctional legal system has struggled to cope with the challenge.

The new law doubles the maximum sentence for terror offences to 20 years and allows security forces to hold suspects for up to 60 days without disclosing their whereabouts or allegations against them.

HRW said the law could be used to suppress peaceful political opposition and criticism of government policy.

"This vague and over-broad counterterrorism law gives a green light for abusing suspects in detention, which is already far too common in Pakistan," said Phelim Kine, deputy Asia director at HRW.

"Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ... should ensure that this law is replaced by one that ensures the protection of basic rights in the fight against terrorism."

The legislation, passed as the Pakistani military fights a major offensive against Taliban and al-Qaeda-linked militant hideouts in the North Waziristan tribal area on the Afghan border, was watered down.

Originally the law would have allowed detention for 90 days and permitted security forces to open fire on anyone they see committing or "likely to commit" terror offences. Now officers can shoot suspects only as a "last resort".

HRW said the law would violate fundamental rights enshrined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Pakistan ratified in 2010. The New York-based campaign group said the bill was an improvement on the original ordinance issued last year, but remained vague and could be used to stifle peaceful protests.

The government introduced the legislation in a bid to curb the violence and instability blighting Pakistan.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Terror law green light for abuse, says rights group
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