By Zulfiqar Ahmad
ISLAMABAD: In a fiery backlash, the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Wednesday condemned the amendment to Section 4 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, terming it an outright assault on constitutional freedoms and a flagrant violation of Article 10 鈥 the cornerstone of fundamental rights.
Speaking at a press conference following a turbulent parliamentary committee meeting, PTI leaders described the controversial amendment as nothing short of a state-sanctioned instrument for unchecked tyranny.
The legislation now permits detention without trial for three months, extendable by a further quarter-year.
PTI MNA Latif Khosa criticised the amendment, saying it stripes away the previous safeguard requiring high court approval for custody extensions, instead bestowing unchecked powers upon local police chiefs. 鈥淭his is a cynical political weapon, designed to suppress opposition dissent.鈥
He reiterated that detainees must be presented before magistrates within 24 hours 鈥 a constitutional guarantee now