IN an effort to improve the laws and institutions dealing with prosecution of terrorists, the PML-N government took a number of measures, such as enacting the Protection of Pakistan Act and the notification of the National Counter Terrorism Authority as the focal body for coordination of anti-terror efforts.

However, thanks to redundancies, a lack of interest from the quarters concerned and resistance from other departments, these new laws and bodies did not prove to be of much use.

As the Protection of Pakistan Act reaches the end of its life and National Counter Terrorism Autho­rity shows no signs of rejuvenation, a special report examines the reasons behind their ineffectiveness.

Published in Dawn, February 15th, 2016