ISLAMABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain has promulgated Anti-terrorism (Amendment) Ordinance 2013, bringing into immediate effect the Anti-Terrorism Act.
Under Anti-terrorism (Amendment) Act, arrest will be made on complaints regarding extortionist activity, kidnapping for ransom and target killing and the people arrested for investigation, will be detained for three months.
Under the ordinance, the suspected people will be arrested in view of threat to national security and solidarity. The ordinance allows military and civil armed forces to arrest the suspects and form joint probe team.
The courts have been permitted to hear the cases of terrorism through video link and evidences received from the electronic sources will be acceptable in the cases. Under the ordinance, the security of the witnesses will be ensured.
The cases of terrorism can be shifted from one province to the other. No arrested person will be allowed access to mobile phone.
It should be mentioned here that President Mamnoon had signed the ordinance before he left for Hajj. The ordinance was issued after establishment of Anti-Terrorism Force by Prime Minister.