Pak security forces get shoot-at-sight powers 

The Protection of Pakistan Bill, 2014

• It empowers an official of grade 15 (Non Gazetted Officers/Junior Officers/ JCOs) and above to issue shoot-at-sight orders
• It also allows a suspect to be kept under detention for a period of 60 days after getting judicial remand
• Under the act, security forces can conduct search operations without securing warrant from a judicial officer
• Another important feature is the imprisonment for at least 20 years for those convicted of militancy.

Amid an all-out military operation against the Taliban in North Waziristan, Pakistan’s Parliament has passed a controversial anti-terror law, giving security forces unbridled powers, including shoot-at-sight suspects involved in terrorism, arson and murder.

The “Protection of Pakistan Bill 2014” empowers an official of grade 15 (Non Gazetted Officers/Junior Officers/ JCOs) and above to issue such orders. It also allows a suspect to be kept under detention for a period of 60 days after getting judicial remand. Under the act, security forces can conduct search operations without securing warrant from a judicial officer.

Cybercrimes and offences related to information technology, as well as the crossing of national boundaries illegally have been included in the list of scheduled offences. Punishments under these offences can be extended to 20 years. The bill was adopted with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) voting in favour of the resolution. It will remain in force for two years.