ISLAMABAD: Senators expressed strong opposition on Friday to the government’s decision to grant special powers to the army and civil armed forces in Balochistan, allowing them to detain terrorism suspects for up to three months.
The lawmakers voiced their concerns a day after the federal cabinet approved an amendment to the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) 1997, which gives security forces extensive authority for “more effective counterterrorism operations.”
During the parliamentary session, senators warned that these powers, allowing the detention of ‘terror suspects’ or individuals deemed threats to national security for three months, could further destabilize the region, following a series of coordinated attacks in Balochistan the previous week.
National Party Senator Jan Muhammad Buledi highlighted the demands in parliament for dialogue with disaffected Baloch youth and criticized the government’s move to grant special powers to security forces as a counterproductive outcome. He argued that the proposed legislation would allow security personnel to enter any residence without a warrant and make arrests, fearing that the government would “misuse its majority” to push the amendment through parliament.
“The biggest issue in Balochistan is enforced disappearances, which have set the entire province on fire,” Buledi said. He pointed out that families of missing persons remain unaware of their loved ones’ whereabouts, while those who cannot be questioned by the public are now being provided legal cover for their sweeping powers.
Buledi also shared that his party’s vice president had been arrested during a raid at his home, illustrating the “police state” conditions in Balochistan. He cautioned that such laws for Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would only worsen the crisis, stating that the use of force offers no solution.
Awami National Party chief Aimal Wali Khan also rejected the move, warning that even if passed by parliament, the law would be challenged in the Supreme Court for violating fundamental rights. He argued that the legislation effectively “legalizes enforced disappearances” at a time when the issue of missing persons remains unresolved.
Khan urged the government to reverse the decision to grant special powers to the armed forces. JUI-F lawmaker Kamran Murtaza echoed this sentiment, condemning what he described as discriminatory treatment against the people of Balochistan. He highlighted recent decisions, such as banning public transport in the province at night, made after an apex committee meeting in Quetta, as deeply troubling.
Murtaza warned that turning Balochistan into a “no-go area” would send a negative message to the world, adding that public protest was now the only recourse for the people and their representatives.
Leader of the opposition in the Senate, Shibli Faraz, criticized the ruling coalition for allegedly failing to introduce legislation in the public interest. He condemned the recent bill regulating public assemblies in Islamabad as “anti-people and anti-democracy,” stating it had caused embarrassment.
Senator Faraz also criticized the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) coalition for introducing two controversial laws following the ouster of Imran Khan’s government — one banning electronic voting machines in general elections and another limiting the powers of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
**Defence Day Resolution**
In other proceedings, the Senate passed a resolution, moved by PPP Senator Poonjo Bheel, to commemorate Pakistan’s Defence Day. The resolution emphasized national unity and support for the armed forces, recognizing their sacrifices and readiness to serve in every challenging situation.
