Pakistani human rights organisation, political activists condemn Balochistan's new counter-terrorism law

The Balochistan Assembly approved the new legislation on June 4.

The new legislation permits the preventive detention of individuals for up to three months without formal charges or judicial oversight, based on suspicion.

It empowers security forces not only to issue detention orders but also to lead investigations via Joint Investigation Teams (JITs), The Balochistn Post reported.

Meanwhile, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has expressed grave concern over the bill.

"HRCP is deeply concerned by the Balochistan Assembly's adoption of the Anti-Terrorism (Balochistan Amendment) Act 2025. While national security is a legitimate concern, the bill grants sweeping powers of preventive detention for up to three months without formal charges—an unacceptable measure that undermines the fundamental rights to liberty, due process and protection from arbitrary arrest," HRCP posted on X.

"We urge the provincial government to reconsider this legislation and ensure it aligns with Pakistan’s constitutional obligations under Article 10 and international human rights commitments under the ICCPR, to which Pakistan is a state party," the X post said.

The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) condemned the law as an attempt to institutionalise state violence against the Baloch people, reported The Balochistan Post.