Government to introduce Fair Trial Act 2012

In order to tighten the noose, the government has decided to bring in a new law to enable law enforcement agencies to use electronic information as evidence against criminals.

According to the proposed draft, the Fair Trial Act 2012 would arm security and intelligence agencies with modern technologies of surveillance and collecting evidence against culprits.

The proposed law would enable law enforcement agencies to use telephonic conversations and data gathered through email as evidences against the outlaws.

However, the security agencies would require a warrant from session judge to record the telephonic conversations of any suspicious person under the new law.

It is vital to mention here that the warrant would be valid for six months but the authorities could extend the warrant after approval from the magistrate.

Federal Law Minister Farooq H Naek while speaking to the media said the upcoming law would be among three to four other laws that the federal cabinet would approve in the next sitting.

He said that the government would table the Fair Trail Act in parliament during the ongoing sessions of the National Assembly and the Senate if it is approved by the cabinet.

He stated, “The Fair Trial Act of 2012 was being promulgated to ensure that no culprit, particularly those involved in acts of terrorism, managed to win release from the courts because of lack of evidence or through intimidation of witnesses and even judges”.

He was of the opinion the act will help in resolving the cases of missing persons, adding that the law would help courts and law enforcement agencies to punish the elements destabilizing the country.

It is vital to mentioned here that the step has been taken by the government after having immense pressure from law enforcement agencies, courts and civil society.

Naik added, “The law was aimed at providing investigation for collection of evidence by means of modern techniques and devices to prevent and effectively deal with scheduled offences and to regulate powers of law-enforcement and intelligence agencies”.

He was of the opinion that the existing laws have no provision for modern investigative techniques such as covert surveillance, human intelligence and communication interception.

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Posted by Faisal Farooq on Sep 5 2012. Filed under National, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.