Today News From Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari amended on Friday the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997, extending the period for which an accused or suspected terrorist can be kept in detention or remand by investigating authorities from 15 to 90 days.

'Any person who has been concerned in any offence under this act or against whom a reasonable complaint has been made or credible information has been received, or a reasonable suspicion exists of his having been so concerned, the government may issue order of his preventive detention, for a period not exceeding 90 days, and which shall not be challenged in any court,
for the purposes of inquiry, specifying reasons and grounds thereof,' it said.

The amended act said a person claiming ownership or interest in any property or assets suspected to be terrorist property may file a claim before the court within 15 days after the freezing of an account or taking into possession or control of such property or assets of an accused.

It also envisages stricter checks on running private FM radio channels.

It said inquiry into terrorism cases might be conducted by a police officer not below the rank of inspector or through a joint interrogation team (JIT) to be notified by the government, comprising a police officer not below the rank of inspector and officers of other investigation agencies.
The powers of the inquiry officer will be vested as per Section 5 of the FIA Act.

The JIT will have all the powers relating to search, arrest and seizure of property and material connected with the commission of offence. It shall have all the powers as a police officer has in relation to the investigation of offences under the code or any other law in force.

The amended laws prohibit disposal of a property if during the course of inquiry or investigation, the police officer or the JIT has sufficient evidence to believe that it is the subject matter of the inquiry or investigation.
An amendment said that if any person has in possession, without lawful excuse, any explosive substance with or without explosive devices or has been concerned with such explosive substance and devices, it shall be presumed, unless the contrary is proved, that the explosive substance is for the purpose of terrorism.

'Any person who has been convicted for an offence punishable under this act, if having property or assets, which are disproportionate to his known sources of income, it shall be presumed, unless contrary is proved, that the said property and assets have been acquired through terrorist activities and shall be liable to be forfeited,' it said.

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