HRW urges Pakistan to repeal terror law
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 5 July 2014 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, HRW urges Pakistan to repeal terror law, 5 July 2014, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/53ce308010.html [accessed 8 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
July 05, 2014
Human Rights Watch is urging Pakistan to repeal what the human rights group calls the country's "repressive" new anti-terror legislation.
Passed by Pakistan's parliament on July 2, the law doubles the maximum allowable sentence for terror offenses to 20 years.
It also allows security forces to hold suspects for as long as 60 days without disclosing their whereabouts or charges against them.
Human Rights Watch said the new law could be used to suppress peaceful political protest and criticism of government policy.
"This vague and overbroad counterterrorism law gives a green light for abusing suspects in detention, which is already far too common in Pakistan," said Phelim Kine, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, in a statement issued on July 4.
The new law comes with the Pakistani military fighting a major offensive against Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked militants in the North Waziristan tribal area on the Afghan border.
Based on reporting by AFP
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
