KARACHI: Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari has defended the provincial government’s amendments to the Anti-Terrorism Act, saying the changes were aimed at strengthening the legal framework and would not be used for political purposes.
Speaking during Geo News programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath’, Azma said the amendments had been made within the existing legal framework and that cases would be dealt with according to the law. She said the government had no intention of interfering in judicial proceedings and that relevant matters would be handled in consultation with the chief justice.
She said the amended law provided for cases to be dealt with through a special procedure and that the complete case would be presented before the chief justice of the Lahore High Court.
Azma rejected concerns that the legislation could be used for political victimisation, saying the government was only performing its administrative responsibilities. “The government’s role is only to carry out its work; information relating to the cases will be provided to the chief justice,” she said.
She said Pakistan was currently fighting a war against terrorism and that the government had to take appropriate legal measures in response to the situation.
Azma maintained that the amendments did not give the provincial government unlimited powers and that the relevant authorities would remain accountable under the law. She also dismissed the impression that the legislation would allow the government to interfere in the courts’ affairs.
