National Assembly passed a controversial ‘fair trial’ legislative bill on Thursday while authorising the state to intercept private communications in order to catch terrorists, may also pose a threat to people’s privacy.
The bill was tabled by Law Minister Farooq Naek despite opposition from the MQM and PML-N.
The bill has formally paved the way for the government to tap phones and use e-mails and text messages as proof in trials.
The legislation provides the authority to the government that it can access “data, information or material in any documented form … through audio visual device, CCTV, still photography, bugging, observation or any mode of modern devices or techniques obtained under the Act … documents, papers, pamphlets, booklets” for surveillance.
The government can also intercept “emails, SMS, internet protocol detail record, call detail record and any form of computer based or cell phone based communication. It also includes any means of communication using wired/ wireless/ internet protocol-based media/ gadgetry.”
The government argues that the ‘Investigation for Fair Trial Act, 2012’, which had already been approved by the NA Standing Committee on Law and Justice last week, will allow for investigations by law-enforcement agencies and security agencies “by modern techniques and devices” in cases related to terrorism.
The bill had become controversial because certain quarters feel that it will pose a serious threat to people’s privacy. The legislation allows security agencies to tap people’s phone calls and intercept other private communications in order to catch terrorists.
But the government claims that “existing laws neither comprehensively provide for nor specifically regulate use of advanced and modern investigative techniques such as covert surveillance and human intelligence, property interference, wire tapping and communication interception that are used extensively in other countries, including the US, the UK and India”.
Earlier, the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) had objected to the bill and had proposed a number of amendments in the draft.
The MQM had proposed 31 amendments to the draft whereas the PML-N had reportedly proposed 33 amendments to it.
Moreover, the MQM had argued that the bill could be misused by security and intelligence agencies for political purposes.
National Assembly was informed that a master plan has been prepared to generate electricity from hydel power projects in order to cope with the growing energy requirements of the country.
Minister for Water and Power Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar informed the House in a written reply that work on twelve hydel projects is in various stages of completion which will add 7000 MW of electricity to the national grid by 2020.
http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/islamabad/20-Dec-2012/na-passes-controversial-fair-trial-bill
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