The bill was an indication that Pakistan was supportive of its security forces, he added. "The terrorism has engulfed the entire country and innocent people are being killed by the terrorists. Terrorists are damaging the image of the country internationally. We hope that the Bill would help the law enforcement agencies to overcome the rising terrorists' activities in the country. The nation is united to root out terrorism and terrorists would never be allowed to tarnish the image of the country," the PM maintained.
Acknowledging the reservation of the leader of the opposition, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan that the Bill would mar the fundamental rights of the citizens, the PM said that there were loopholes in almost all laws but there was always a room for improvement with changing scenario. "The objective of the bill is to flush out the terrorists from country and any loophole in the law should be removed," he underlined. He said that the legislation was aimed at protecting the citizens from the terrorists, who were not even sparing the polio workers striving to save the children from disability. He said that the terrorism was not a problem of a single party or a certain section of society rather it was a national issue.
He urged the parliamentarians to take active part in the debate, showing national spirit and conveying a categorical message to the terrorists that the nation was united against them. He congratulated the house on the unanimous passage of the bill. Earlier, Opposition leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan while speaking on the floor of the House said that the house had started legislation on sensitive issue directly linked to the fundamental rights of the citizens. "It is feared that the law enforcement agencies could misuse the powers given to them under the proposed the bill."
He said that telephone calls were being bugged by the intelligence agencies even before the proposed legislation and even the politicians and senior parliamentarians' telephone calls were bugged by the agencies. He proposed that the law should be made functional for one year only, and after reviewing the pros and corn of the law, the government would decide whether to continue or abolish it. Any official of agency, which misuses the provisions of the law, should be jailed for three years, he added.
The newly adopted legislation authorises the government to access data, information or material in any documented form ... through audio visual device, CCTV, still photography, bugging, observation or any mode of modern devices or techniques obtained under the Act ... documents, papers, pamphlets, booklets for surveillance. The government can also intercept emails, SMS, internet protocol detail record, call detail record and any form of computer based or cell phone based communication. It also includes any means of communication using wired/ wireless/ internet protocol-based media/ gadgetry.