The passage of the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Act 2025 in Balochistan has sparked debates over its implications for the province’s security and human rights. The amendment, passed by the Balochistan Assembly on June 5, introduces critical measures designed to address the long-standing issue of missing persons and to combat terrorism in a region plagued by insurgency, militancy, and foreign interference.
What the Amendment Entails?
Under the new law, law enforcement agencies now have the authority to detain individuals suspected of terrorism-related activities for up to three months before presenting them in court. The inquiry into such detentions will be conducted by either a Superintendent-level police officer or a Joint Interrogation Team (JIT), which may include members of intelligence agencies in cases where the armed forces are involved. Additionally, detainees can be transferred to rehabilitation or de-radicalization centers based on the oversight board’s recommendations.
Read more: Balochistan Anti-Terrorism act amendment – A necessary step towards security and stability
To ensure transparency, the amendment mandates the creation of Oversight Boards comprising civilians, military officers, a psychiatrist, and a criminologist, headed by a high-ranking provincial official. These boards are tasked with monitoring detainees’ conditions and reviewing the circumstances of their detention. This system aims to bring clarity to the debate over missing persons by differentiating between individuals who have genuinely disappeared and those who have joined militant organizations.
Addressing the Missing Persons Controversy
For years, the issue of missing persons has been a flashpoint in Balochistan, used by political actors and pseudo-human rights groups as a tool to discredit state institutions. Allegations of mass disappearances have been amplified both domestically and internationally, often without substantial evidence. Many of the so-called missing persons, as investigations have revealed, are active members of militant groups like the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), receiving training in insurgent camps.
The ATA amendment seeks to counter this narrative by ensuring that any individual detained by state institutions is accounted for within a legal framework. If anyone disappears outside this system, they can be classified as a truly missing person, bringing much-needed clarity to an issue often clouded by propaganda.
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti aptly pointed out that the missing person issue is not exclusive to Balochistan. “There is a missing count. There are people missing in KP (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa). No one speaks about them,” he said, highlighting the selective focus on Balochistan and the politicization of the issue. He further emphasized the distinction between enforced disappearances and “self-disappearances,” with many individuals leaving their homes to join militant groups.
Ensuring Accountability or Granting Unchecked Powers?
Critics of the amendment have voiced concerns about the potential for abuse, claiming it grants unchecked powers to law enforcement and intelligence agencies. However, a closer look at the provisions of the law reveals a robust system of oversight and accountability. The involvement of Oversight Boards, legal review processes, and the requirement to present detainees in court within three months are safeguards against potential misuse.
The critics’ claims also ignore the unique nature of the conflict in Balochistan, where militant groups operate with foreign backing and employ guerrilla tactics against both civilians and state institutions. The hybrid nature of this conflict demands a hybrid response, including the involvement of military personnel in oversight processes.
FitnatulHindustan Violence and the BYC’s Silence
While concerns about human rights are valid, it is equally important to acknowledge the brutal tactics employed by militant groups in Balochistan. Recent attacks, such as the siege of Surab city, the looting of banks, and assaults on schools like APS Khuzdar, are stark reminders of the violence faced by the province’s residents. These groups, often supported by foreign entities like India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), have caused untold suffering to ordinary citizens.
Yet organizations like the Baloch Youth Council (BYC), which have been vocal critics of the state, remain conspicuously silent on these atrocities. Their selective focus on state actions while ignoring militant violence undermines their credibility and raises questions about their motives. The BYC’s refusal to condemn the killings, extortion, and other crimes committed by militant groups exposes a bias that weakens their claims of advocating for human rights.
The ATA amendment is not an attack on peaceful dissent, as some detractors claim. Instead, it is a targeted effort to combat terrorism and protect citizens, including the Baloch, from militant violence. Comparing Pakistan’s counter-terrorism efforts to authoritarian regimes is both manipulative and baseless. Pakistan operates within a constitutional framework, and the amendment reflects the state’s commitment to balancing security concerns with legal oversight.
The people of Balochistan, like all Pakistanis, deserve peace, security, and development. The province has long been destabilized by insurgency and propaganda that fuels mistrust in state institutions. The Anti-Terrorism Act amendment is a step toward restoring stability by addressing genuine security threats while ensuring accountability and transparency.
