Pakistan Protection Bill passed as Opposition stage walkout

E-Paper | March 02, 2026

ISLAMABAD: Amidst much uproar and protests, the Protection of Pakistan Bill was approved on late Monday evening in the National Assembly, DawnNews reported.

Meanwhile, the government refused all amendments suggested by the Opposition.

The minute Pakistan Protection Bill 2013 was presented in the upper house; chaos ensued and eventually resulted in a boycott.

Opposition leaders gathered around the dais and protested against the bill. Some opposition members also tore down the copies of the bill and threw them.

Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Islam – Fazl (JUI-F) showed its support with the opposition and also joined in the walk-out.

Calling it a ‘black law’, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) slammed the Bill and said it will backfire.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that bill was accepted without taking into account the opposition to it.

“The government bulldozed the process of legislation. With this bill, it is getting limitless powers,” he said.

MQM leader Farooq Sattar said that the Prime Minister and the Home Minister had assured them of consultation on the bill today.

“However, the opposite happened and we were not allowed to suggest amendments,” he said.

The JUI-F called the new bill an ‘extra-constitutional’ and slammed it.

According to the contents of the Bill, the said law will ensure that trail of cases against terrorists are expedited.

A joint team will investigate terrorism cases of terrorism and special courts will be set up to deal with the cases.

Furthermore, under the bill, any person who is convicted of a crime can be kept in any prison in the country.

APP adds:

Minister for State and Frontier Regions Abdul Qadir Baloch on Monday called for a protective law to save the country from terrorism and sectarian violence.

“The country is bleeding. We need to protect lives and property of our people and this needs a protective law,” he said speaking in National Assembly during discussion on the Protection of Pakistan Bill 2013 and the Protection of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill 2014.

He said the situation started worsening from 1999 and two previous governments also lived with the same situation but enacted no law for protection.

“Even today they are opposing the bill knowing well that this wave of terrorism has claimed the lives of 40,000 Pakistanis.”

He mentioned the examples like release of Ajmal Pahari; the killer of 100 people as well as quashing the cases against 8000 people of a political party.

But, today the important people of previous governments are opposing this bill, sitting on opposition benches.

“We are not enacting a law to kill the people. The country is bleeding and the government desires to protect the innocent people from the tyranny of extremists,” he added.

The minister said, “Today people are talking of separate countries and we are opposing a law meant for securing the country and its people from the clutches of terrorism and extremism.”

He however stated that if this law can be made better, it should be done but it should not be opposed out rightly.

Pakistan

Protection of Pakistan Ordinance poised to create more issues

Pakistan Protection Ordinance termed a draconian law

independentthinker

Apr 08, 2014 12:02am

Isn't this something that we are practicing already? Now, it is just official! In a undemocratic country like Pakistan, the government can literally do whatever it pleases, whether there is a law to protect it or not. The only time they are held accountable is when they are replaced. That will happen, regardless! Even if they make it a law, the new government will always find something against the present government and there will be charges and imprisonment and most likely death sentence. That is what has been happening in our country and it is not about to change, any time soon.

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Asad

Apr 08, 2014 12:12am

Behaviour of a state should be different from that of criminals. Every accused criminal must be given a fair and open trial. The difference between criminals and government won't exist otherwise.

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Syed N

Apr 08, 2014 12:45am

Country is facing extra ordinary law and order conditions. Robberies, murders take place in day light in busy streets. No body dare challenge these murderers. Hardly any genuine criminal is caught. Even those caught get scot free in courts for want of evidence. Witnesses are terrorized. Because of law and order conditions there is very little investment, specially from abroad. If measures as envisaged in the bill are not taken, country is doomed. We have to swallow this bitter pill for the sake of saving country. How ever government can not be open end. The bill should last only for two years which is sufficient time for government to eradicate lawlessness. Opposition parties should however form vigilant committes to see that the bill is not misused.

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Mustafa

Apr 08, 2014 01:11am

No amount of judicial oversight can compensate for personal morals or the lack thereof. US has it's Guantanamo Bay, India has AFPSA (Armed Forces Special Powers Act), UK and Germany have similar rackets. All these so-called democracies have obscure legamechanisms that allows them to bypass what an average man on the street calls the "Law". Look up John Demjajuk on the net. This man spent 29 years in jail in USA, Germany and Israel and was never convicted by any court of law.

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Mustafa

Apr 08, 2014 01:16am

@Asad: "The difference between criminals and government won't exist otherwise." Is there a difference?? And I am not talking just about Pakistan.

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nak

Apr 08, 2014 01:33am

This law pretty much reflects and inline with PML leadership thinking. These people consider themselves above the law and think they own everything. This is history repeating itself. People of Pakistan don't learn from the past.

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Jalaluddin S. Hussain

Apr 08, 2014 01:50am

Let Protection of Pakistan Bill 2013, be implemented without delay. We need to get rid of rampant terrorism from the country, as soon as possible.

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Jalaluddin S. Hussain

Apr 08, 2014 01:50am

Let Protection of Pakistan Bill 2013, be implemented without delay. We need to get rid of rampant terrorism from the country, as soon as possible.

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Jalaluddin S. Hussain

Apr 08, 2014 01:50am

Let Protection of Pakistan Bill 2013, be implemented without delay. We need to get rid of rampant terrorism from the country, as soon as possible.

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Pragmatist

Apr 08, 2014 01:51am

What this country needs is less laws and repeal of the past silly laws and ordinances. If the Pakistanis really are serious about reforming their country they should abolish all laws that promote sectarianism and target minorities in the name of the Islam. A country that persecutes its helpless non muslims cannot and will not ever enjoy peace and tranquility because God does not like these atrocities and will punish its perpetrators. Blasphemy laws, hudood ordinances, killing of people in the name of Islam, desecrating their places of worship and burning their homes will never allow any peace for the Pakistan. Let them pass all the laws the want and see the futility of their efforts.

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Thoughtful

Apr 08, 2014 02:17am

In a country where police, judges, and lawmakers are corrupt and thoughtless, the so called Pakistan protection law will hurt innocent civilians and even the opposition lawmakers of an existing ruling party. The outcome of this law will be as harmful as the blasphemy law. In the case of blasphemy law the criminal elements of the society and the mullahs are using it to their advantage whereas, in Pakistan protection law a ruling party will use it against the opposition as well any civilian or group of civilians whom the government thinks is harmful to their rule. In the long run, this law will strengthen the dictatorial rule of a civilian government. It must be repealed.

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Apr 08, 2014 04:01am

In a democratic country majority can pass the law and opposition can cry for doing nothing. Opposition should realize that there are too many lawless people in the country and someone has to do it.

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pakiboy

Apr 08, 2014 06:13am

what is the difference between dictatorship and the democratic govt now .. now govt can declare anyone they dont like a terrorists and dispose of him ASAP .. this is total crap .. public should stand against it .. crush this nonsense .. before the goons of govt r standing at ur door !!

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Nazim

Apr 08, 2014 06:47am

@Jalaluddin S. Hussain: The bill should be enforced for two years only. If government fails to erradicate terrorism and lawlessness in this period it should resign.

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Yawar

Apr 08, 2014 07:47am

Such laws can only work when there is openness. Otherwise in a country where corruption and selective justice is the norm, these kinds of laws can be very dangerous.

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Saeed

Apr 08, 2014 08:42am

Opposition should have supported passing of this ordinance to effectively control the terrorists and criminals. India has had similar laws in place particularly in Kashmir.

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Moby Moby

Apr 08, 2014 09:06am

A law to protect Pakistan - we already have laws to "protect" Islam, to "protect" the Holy Prophets (PBUH) reputation, to "protect" us from vile videos on evil Youtube - we are busy protecting everything and everyone except ourselves from our own ignorance, which at the moment seems the deadliest threat.

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Tahir Qureshi

Apr 08, 2014 10:36am

Where can I see the text of the actual bill?

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captainjohann samuhanand

Apr 08, 2014 11:43am

Pakistan needa protection from Whom. It is talking to TTP and rreleasing Taliban.then from whom Pakistan needs prottection?

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Saad

Apr 08, 2014 03:52pm

@Jalaluddin S. Hussain: What if you are arrested on mere suspicion and detained for three months? What if your neighbour being jealous of you accuses you of terrorism and has you arrested without proof? What then? Will you still be so enthusiastic about this law? This law curbs terrorism only as much as banning mobile phone use curbed bomb blasts.

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vijaykumar

Apr 09, 2014 02:58pm

Does this include Pak minorities also?

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Modi

Apr 09, 2014 09:19pm

@Asad: Whatever laws,which are passed legally in accordance with the parliamentary procedures must be respected and accepted by all. We need strongest possible laws to arrest the lawlessness and a slide towards anarchy in Pakistan. So, why are people complaining about strong legal measures to protect the people and to punish the terrorists. We are in a state of war, whether we accept it or not, and strong draconian laws are necaessary in a state of war. If and when Pakistan becomes a civilized society with fear of God and respect for human life, these laws can be amended or withdrawn.

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Karachi Wala

Apr 10, 2014 08:14pm

@Jalaluddin S. Hussain: "Let Protection of Pakistan Bill 2013, be implemented without delay. We need to get rid of rampant terrorism from the country, as soon as possible." Keeping in mind past ambitions and its present shrouded ambiguity related to extimism in general and TTP in particular, one can hardly trust our Govt.

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