ISLAMABAD: A new law to deal with the emotive issue of enforced disappearances is on the anvil in Pakistan and is likely to reach the prime minister’s office in a week or two.
A source privy to the development said a draft of the law had already been endorsed by the federal task force constituted on July 24 to devise a national policy on the issue of missing persons. “The draft bill is ready and will be presented to the interior secretary,” the source said, adding that it would be placed before the prime minister for approval and then in parliament.
Under the new law containing 12 recommendations, enforced disappearance will be considered a criminal offence.
However, breathing space will be provided to the armed forces and intelligence agencies by allowing them to keep under preventive detention for a longer period an individual suspected of involvement in terrorist acts.
“It is a demand of the armed forces and intelligence agencies to strengthen their hands by equipping them with the authority to detain a person for an extended period,” the source said.
The preventive detention laws as well as the newly introduced law, Protection of Pakistan Ordinance 2013, allow 90 days of captivity.
The reason being given by the defence authorities, and taken into consideration by the task force was that they knew the identity and activities of suspects but did not have enough evidence which could stand the test of legal proceedings in a court of law.
INTERNEWS
