Zardari signs bill on evidence collection into law

DPA/Islamabad

Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari has signed into law legislation aimed at improving evidence collection by security agencies to achieve a higher conviction rate in cases of terrorism, his office said.

The Investigation for Fair Trial Bill, which was approved by both houses of the country’s parliament during past two months, allows investigators to use “modern techniques and devices” for surveillance to pre-empt terrorist and other violent acts.

Under the law, intelligence organisations - both military and civilian - as well as police can seek higher court authorisation to collect admissible evidence before a suspect is charged.

After passage of the bill in the National Assembly on December 20, Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf had told the lower house that the legislation was against “terrorists and enemies of humanity, and it is to protect the lives of common people in Pakistan.”

Earlier, the main opposition group as well as a key ally of the Pakistan People’s Party-led coalition government had expressed concerns that the new rules could infringe privacy and civil liberties, which led to several amendments.

According to the law, Pakistan’s federal interior minister would first review an investigator’s application for interception of electronic communication or surveillance of a suspect before it was sent to the court, which would also have the authority to reject it.

If convinced about the merits, the court can issue a warrant having a maximum validity of 60 days, but with the possibility of re-issuance upon expiry.

 A warrant will authorize the investigators to intercept and record telephonic conversations as well as electronic communications such as e-mails and cell phone text messages.