ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday signed into law the “Fair Trial Act 2012”, which authorises the state to intercept private communications in order to track suspected terrorists.

The legislation allows security agencies to collect evidence “by means of modern techniques and devices” like wire-tapping and intercepting emails and SMS text messages that will be accepted in a court in cases registered under five security-related laws.

The bill had become controversial when human rights groups and critics voiced concerns that the legislation could pose a threat to people’s privacy and be misused against political opponents.

The bill had already been passed by the National Assembly in December last year, and the Senate earlier this month.