ISLAMABAD: Three anti-terror ordinances were presented in the National Assembly on Thursday as Intelligence agencies warned of possible terror attacks during Muharram whereas the government said it had prepared a foolproof security plan to tackle the threat, DawNews reported.
Federal Minister for Science and Technology Zahid Hamid presented the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Ordinance, 2013 (No 7, of 2013), the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Ordinance, 2013, (No 8 of 2013) and the Protection of Pakistan Ordinance, 2013, (No 9 of 2013) in the lower house of parliament for debate.
Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq referred the ordinances to the relevant committee and asked it to deliberate the amendments and to present in the House for approval.
Prior to the NA session, Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan told mediapersons that intelligence agencies had received information regarding plans of terrorist activities during Muharram and added that the the government had prepared a foolproof security plan covering all possible angels.
He further said that a meeting on security was called for 4 pm today.
Under the Anti-terrorism (Amendment) Ordinance, 2013, shoot-on-site powers were given to civil armed forces for maintenance of peace in the country while providing them a ‘very short’ time for investigation.
Electronic evidences would be acceptable whereas the judges, public prosecutors and witnesses would be given protection according the proposed law.
Moreover, the Pakistan Protection Ordinance determined the minimum punishment given under Article 7 of the Constitution as explained in Chapters VI, VII, VIII and IX of the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860, Pakistan Arms Act, or Foreigners Act 1946, etc, at 10 years.
Another significant feature of the ordinance is to provide complete protection of law to all civil and military law-enforcement agencies and their personnel to discharge their mission within the parameters of the constitution that deal with unusual circumstances in which the federation can intervene in provincial affairs.