Source: TOI
TNN 5 October 2009, 02:15am IST
NEW DELHI: Terror groups in Pakistan may now find it difficult to squeeze out of tight spots by renaming their organisations.
In a move that could have significant implications for groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari promulgated an ordinance on Friday extending the anti-terrorism law against such rebadged groups.
Amending the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997, the ordinance, effective immediately, stated that if “office-bearers, activists or associates of a proscribed organisation form a new organisation under a different name, upon suspicion about their involvement in similar activities, the said organisation shall also be deemed to be a proscribed organisation”.
The government may then “issue a formal notification” about the proscription of the new group formed by members of a banned organisation, it said.
In light of the fact that terror suspects routinely walk free because of the 30-day rule, the duration of remand has been increased from 30 days to 90 days in the amended ordinance of the Anti-Terrorism Act.
Pakistani media reports said the word ‘terrorism’ had been redefined and expanded, which now provides that those funding, providing logistic support and directly or indirectly being involved in any terror activities would be treated as terrorists and would be punished at par with central terrorists who execute terror activities.
The amended ordinance also says that those providing information about the targets, the target’s residence and transport, and those involved in plotting terrorist attacks would be considered as terrorists.
Comments