Pakistan human rights defenders voice concern over anti-terrorism changes in Punjab
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) expressed serious concern after the Punjab Provincial Assembly passed the Anti-Terrorism Laws Amendment Bill 2026. The organization said the new provisions could weaken fair trial guarantees and create opportunities for abuse of state power, Dawn reports.
Special security cases
Under the amendments, a government-appointed official whose identity will remain confidential will be able to declare a case a “special security case.” Following such a decision, the names of judges, prosecutors, police officers, witnesses and defense lawyers may not be disclosed.
HRCP noted that the legislation does not define clearly enough the circumstances in which these extraordinary powers may be used. In the commission’s view, they could be used against ordinary citizens, political opponents or protest participants under the pretext of security.
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Fair trial guarantees
The human rights organization acknowledged that protecting judicial staff and investigators from real threats is a legitimate duty of the state. At the same time, it questioned whether the need for such broad measures had been proven.
HRCP said that the secrecy introduced by the legislation raises concerns over compliance with Articles 9, 10A and 14 of Pakistan’s Constitution. They concern the security of the person, the right to a fair trial and the protection of dignity, respectively. The commission also referred to Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantees the right to a fair trial.
According to HRCP’s assessment, a person wrongly accused of an offence may lose the opportunity to properly challenge evidence or question the fairness of the proceedings. The organization called for the bill to be reviewed, brought into line with constitutional and international guarantees, and for independent judicial oversight of exceptional security measures to be introduced.
