Standing Committee of National Assembly on Interior in its meeting in Parliament House here on Wednesday approved draft Anti-Terrorism (amendment) Bill 2004.
Chairman of the Committee MNA Sardar Talib Hussain Nakai presided over the meeting.
Opening the discussion on the Amendment Bill, Sardar Talib Hussain Nakai remarked the proposed amendments in the principal law were being made in the backdrop of taking serious cognisance of terrorist acts such as bomb blast, firing and use of explosives in Mosques, Imam Bargahs, Churches and other worship places and court premises, and to counter increased terrorism activities in the country.
The committee had an intense discussion on the amendments proposed in the anti-terrorism Law.
The committee was of the view that the law enacted by the parliament would help create deterrence for increased activities of terror in recent past and would also limit frequent adjournment of cases, and the appeals would be decided by special benches in the High Courts comprising of not less than two judges, however amendments may be carried out in some clauses.
The Committee, after through deliberations, passed the drat of Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill 2004.
MNAs Syed Nayyar Hussain Bokhari, Ms Naheed Khan and Farid Ahmad Piracha gave their notes of dissent.
The Chairman Committee directed Secretary Ministry of Interior and Draftsman Ministry of Law and Justice to incorporate amendments proposed by the members in the Bill to be submitted before the National Assembly for passage.
The meeting was attended by MNAs, Syed Tasneem Nawaz Gardezi, Amjad Ali Warraich, Maulana Ghulam Muhammad Sadiq, Muhammad Saeed Virk, Ms Naheed Khan, Syed Nayyar Hussain Bokhari, Farid Ahmad Piracha, Malik Niaz Ahmad Jakhar and Manzoor Hussain Wassan, Secretary Ministry of Interior and Draftsman Ministry of Law and Justice.