Who will stop misuse of ‘Fair Trial Bill’?

The National Assembly has passed a bill, allowing the country’s security agencies to record phones and use e-mails and text messages as proof in trials in terrorism-related cases.

Rights groups are concerned at the possible misuse of the legislation, as such laws have always been misused by the state institutions especially when they deal with the terroris-related cases.

Prime Minister, Raja Pervez Asharf, who was in the National Assembly, when the house approved the ‘Fair-Trial Bill 2012’, hailed the law to ‘defeat terrorism’.

The country’s six major security agencies including the ISI and MI, will have access to  “data, information or material in any documented form through audio visual device, CCTV, still photography, bugging, observation or any mode of modern devices or techniques obtained under the Act … documents, papers, pamphlets, booklets” for surveillance”.

The government claims that the law will also regulate the powers of the law enforcement and intelligence agencies, but it has never been the case in the past when and the public can only attach hopes to the assertions of the ministers.

Under the bill all the law enforcement and intelligence agencies will be governed by a uniform legal system for collection of evidence‚ which will be admissible even if collected prior to the registration of an FIR.

The cases of hundreds of missing persons is an example as affected families allege that people are kidnapped and kept in illegal detention. Despite Supreme Court’s notice, there is not a visible change in the situation.

Many in Pakistan believe that if the authorities have suspicion about any person he should be produced in the court and their detention must be made public or their families informed.

The Law Minister said that the bill would provide a legal framework to the agencies to lawfully conduct the surveillance of an individual who is suspected of engaging of preparations to conduct an act of crime or terror.

The Prime Minister‚ lauding the unanimous passage of Fair Trial Bill‚ told the National Assembly, that the entire nation is behind the security forces with the resolve to defeat terrorism

The House also adopted amendments moved by the members of PML-N and MQM, who had expressed reservations about the legislation.

Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf lauded the sacrifices of security forces in the fight against terrorism and said they always confronted the challenges with courage and resilience.

He said there is a joint resort that terrorists will not be allowed to distort the image of Pakistan.

The Prime Minster said entire country is in the grip of terrorism which harmed the image of the country in the global community. He said the Bill passed by the House is aimed at defeating the terrorists.

He said the passage of the Bill conveys a message to the international community that Pakistan by strengthening its security forces wants to combat the menace of terrorism in order to defeat it.

Prime Minister Pervez Ashraf said the legislation also gives a clear message to the terrorists that the whole nation is united against them.

He expressed the confidence that the legislation will help free the country from shackles of terrorism.

The Prime Minister felicitated the members of the House over the passage of the Fair Trial Bill.

Agreeing to the concerns of the opposition leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on the bill‚ he said there is always room for improvement.

Leader of Opposition Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said keeping in view the current security situation in the country‚ “we are supporting the very objectives of the bill”.

Defence Minister Syed Naveed Qamar said this legislation is required to bring to justice the terrorists who often get released due to lack evidences. He said effort has been made that nobody could misuse this law.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=36441

Posted by Tahir Khan on Dec 21 2012. Filed under Latest News, National, Opinion, Pakistan, Politics. 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.