RAWALPINDI: The National Assembly yesterday adjourned sine die after it had passed the Bill amending the preventive detention laws to the advantage of the detenus. The Preventive Detention Bill, as amended, disallows the Government to detain any person for more than two months without the authority of a two-man board comprising a Judge of the Supreme Court and a senior official nominated by the President.

Another important provision of the Bill is that the detenu will be heard in person by the board and will be allowed to consult a legal practitioner prior to appearing before the board. Consultation, however, will take place in the presence of an officer of the Government.

According to another amendment to the Security Act, the detenu will be communicated the grounds of his detention within 15 days of his arrest.

Before adjourning indefinitely last night, the National Assembly also adopted another Bill splitting the Post and Telegraph Department into two separate directorates.

The five-week session of the National Assembly, elected in May last, ended, as the Speaker said, “on a happy note”.

Besides passing the Budget for 1962-63, it transacted heavy official and non-official business. Among the very important Bills to have been passed by the Assembly were the Political Parties Bill and the Preventive Detention Laws (Amendment) Bill.—Staff Correspondent