Punjab Assembly passes anti-terror amendment 

LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly has approved the Punjab Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2026, despite strong opposition from opposition lawmakers, who protested against the legislation and later walked out of the session.

The bill was passed during a heated assembly session on Monday. Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan and Opposition Leader Moin Riaz Qureshi exchanged arguments over the constitutional and legal aspects of the proposed law.

The speaker ruled that the bill could be presented before the assembly. He referred to Article 142 of the Constitution, which deals with legislative powers relating to criminal law.

Defending the legislation, the speaker highlighted the heavy human cost of terrorism in Pakistan. He said more than 100,000 people had lost their lives during the country’s war against terrorism. He also recalled attacks on important personalities and places of worship.

Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan said terrorists had previously escaped punishment because witnesses and other people involved in sensitive cases often lacked adequate protection. He argued that extraordinary security measures were necessary when dealing with serious terrorism-related cases.

The opposition strongly rejected the bill. Moin Riaz Qureshi described the proposed legislation as harsh and accused the provincial government of using it against political opponents.

Qureshi claimed the amendment could particularly affect Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders and workers. He also questioned a provision giving a Grade-20 designated official a role in advising the chief justice of the Lahore High Court on whether a case should be declared a “special security case.”

Opposition lawmaker Ahmar Rashid Bhatti also criticised the proposed legislation. He compared it with colonial-era laws and warned that some of its provisions could undermine constitutional protections.

Bhatti raised concerns about provisions allowing the identities and voices of judges, prosecutors, defence lawyers and witnesses to be concealed or modified.

He argued that such measures could conflict with Article 10-A of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to a fair trial.

The debate intensified as opposition lawmakers raised slogans against the bill. They subsequently staged a walk-out from the assembly.

Before leaving the chamber, opposition lawmaker Waqas Mann raised an objection over the lack of quorum. Treasury members, however, managed to maintain the required number of lawmakers in the House.

After the opposition members left, the assembly rejected their proposed amendments and proceeded with voting on the legislation.

The bill introduces a new Section 21AAA into the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997. It establishes a mechanism for declaring certain cases as “special security cases” when individuals involved are considered to face extraordinary security threats.

Under the proposed framework, a designated authority would be able to classify a case or a group of cases as special security cases.

The legislation is aimed at providing enhanced protection in sensitive terrorism-related proceedings. However, opposition lawmakers have warned that the measures could affect transparency and the constitutional right to a fair trial.