Amnesty International says Punjab anti-terror law raises concern on 'right to fair trial'

Amnesty International said on Friday that the Punjab Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2026, raised "serious" concerns about the "right to a fair trial", further noting that the amendment allowed for "secret trials" that could result in grave human rights violations. On August 31, the Punjab Assembly passed the Punjab Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2026 amid protests and a walkout by opposition lawmakers. In a public statement, Amnesty International noted that the amendment was a "glaring attack on the right to fair trial in Pakistan". Pakistan: The Anti-Terrorism (Punjab Amendment) Act, 2026, raises serious concerns about the right to a fair trial. In a new public statement, Amnesty International examines the amendment against Pakistan’s obligations under international human rights law and highlights how… — Amnesty International South Asia, Regional Office (@amnestysasia) October 9, 2026 The statement added that the amendment created a mechanism for trials shrouded in "complete secrecy", exceeding permissible exceptions to the "right to a fair trial", which includes a public trial, under international human rights law, further adding that it deepened concerns regarding "past misuse" of anti-terrorism laws that had resulted in grave human rights violations. Read: LHC seeks arguments on anti-terror bill's legality The statement also noted that the process and criteria for designating a trial as a “special security case” were highly vague and lacked transparency. "The text of section 21AAA(5)(b) suggests that the designated authority has full discretion to decide whether a case or a class of cases require extraordinary protection measures and that the chief justice is bound by this decision. Neither the amendment nor the original act offers a definition of what constitutes extraordinary protection," it added. Amnesty further stated that the amendment allowed a level of secrecy with enormous potential for miscarriage of justice. "The amendment is applicable to Punjab province, which is Pakistan’s most populous province consisting of 127,333,305 people (50.9% of the total population)37, and if this act is allowed to be implemented it could lead to a knock-on effect in other provinces who could pass similar legislation." Background of law The amendment inserted a new Section 21AAA into the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, creating a “special security case” mechanism for cases in which participants are considered to require extraordinary protection. Read More: Punjab Assembly passes controversial anti-terror law A designated authority — an officer of at least BS-20 whose identity would itself remain confidential — can declare a case or a class of cases a special security case. At the authority’s request, the LHC chief justice can assign the case to an Anti-Terrorism Court judge. The amendment also said that the identities of judges, public prosecutors, defence counsel, police officers, witnesses and other persons involved in such proceedings “shall not be disclosed”. Judicial orders will use official titles instead of judges’ names, and witnesses would be identified by codes issued by the designated authority. The proceedings could be held at secure premises or conducted through video links, including from prisons. The amendment also allows the government to adopt other security measures it considers appropriate.

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Sanaullah links K-P governor’s rule to counterterrorism cooperation, not long march

Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said on Friday that the proposed governor’s rule or emergency in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa was related to the matter of counterterrorism cooperation, not the PTI’s planned long march, and could be resolved if the provincial government stood alongside the federal government and law enforcement agencies. Speaking on a private television programme, Naya Pakistan, Sanaullah said the negotiations appeared to be heading towards a dead end as the PTI did not seem willing to abandon its plan for a long march and accept the offer of talks. Linking the possibility of governor’s rule or an emergency in K-P to the PTI leadership and provincial government’s commitment to the fight against terrorism, he said the matter could be resolved if PTI leaders and Chief Minister Sohail Afridi declared their support for the federal government and law enforcement agencies in the fight against terrorism. Read: CM Afridi says PTI to unveil ‘final plan’ in Swabi as long march enters 6th day, heads to Charsadda He stressed that the proposed imposition of governor’s rule had nothing to do with the long march. “If they do not make this commitment, then whether they hold the long march all the way to Islamabad or keep it short of Islamabad will make no difference,” he said. The PML-N leader said that, over the past three or four days, the K-P chief minister had stated that no military operation would be allowed in the province. Sanaullah said there would be no need to displace people or evacuate valleys, as the proposed measures would involve intelligence-based operations. “Imposing an emergency certainly does not mean that those districts will be evacuated and people turned into internally displaced persons (IDPs). Rather, intelligence-based operations will be conducted within the territorial jurisdiction,” he said. During the same program, K-P Law Minister Aftab Alam expressed surprise at what he described as ambiguity in statements by federal ministers on the proposed measures. “One minister says that if the long march is not called off, an emergency will be imposed, while another says that the government wants to impose an emergency or governor’s rule because the provincial government is not cooperating with the federation on terrorism-related matters,” he said. Alam said he believed a narrative was being built against the K-P government as part of what he called a “nefarious conspiracy”. “God forbid, it is being suggested that we are somehow on the side of someone else in these matters. However, our stance is clear: this war is ours even before it is the federation’s,” he said. Also Read: Govt trying to avoid ‘last option’ but may consider governor’s rule in K-P if no alternative remains: Khawaja Asif He maintained that the PTI and the K-P government stood with law enforcement agencies in the fight against terrorism, adding that the provincial government had strengthened the police. “Our mission is very clear, and it is being deliberately made controversial,” he said. The issue of Governor’s Rule has become a major point of contention between the federal and K-P government. On September 21, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said the government was consulting the law ministry on legal options for the province, including Governor’s Rule, if the PTI proceeded with its long march. Two days later, however, Information Minister Atta Tarar ruled out any plan to impose Governor’s Rule, saying the federal government had no intention of removing the PTI administration. Some federal ministers publicly raised the possibility of federal intervention in K-P. Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Amir Muqam said consultations were under way on the "constitutional and legal option" of imposing Governors' Rule. Afridi, however, rejected the warnings and said he would not retreat from his position because of threats of Governors' Rule or an emergency. He also said PTI supporters could take to the streets at short notice if an attempt was made to remove him. However, amid the speculation, just days before the PTI’s planned long march, the prime minister and the president formed a committee last week to negotiate with the PTI and other opposition parties over the march, while expressing concern over the province’s deteriorating law and order situation. The government and opposition parties held negotiations over two days, and the talks initially appeared to be bearing fruit. However, just as the two sides were nearing agreement on most of the contentious issues, a deadlock emerged, bringing the negotiation process to a halt. The government blamed the K-P government, particularly Afridi, for the deadlock and failure of the negotiations. The PTI, however, claimed that the talks broke down over its demand for a meeting with the party’s founder, which the government refused to accept. Read More: Bilawal urges PTI to return to political engagement, says governor's rule in K-P would be 'atomic bomb' As the negotiation process collapsed, CM Afridi began his long march towards Islamabad, further escalating tensions between the two sides, with both sides continuing to trade allegations. As tensions peaked, PM Shehbaz once again entered the fray and extended an olive branch to the PTI, saying the government was prepared to engage with the opposition if the party ended its long march and sit-ins. The PTI, however, rejected the offer as its march continued towards Islamabad, entering its sixth day on Friday. The convoy moved towards Charsadda, with CM Afridi leading the procession.

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Property sale NOC linked to sanitation fee payment

The Punjab government has made payment of the sanitation fee mandatory for obtaining a no-objection certificate (NOC) required for the sale of property. The distribution of the first sanitation bills across the province is under way. Under the new condition, an NOC will not be issued for property transactions unless the sanitation fee has been paid. The move has reportedly affected property transactions as the government prepares to complete the distribution of around five million bills this month. The new requirement comes after the government began billing urban property owners under the Suthra Punjab programme this month. The excise, taxation and narcotics control department has been assigned the responsibility for billing and collecting the sanitation fee from around five million residential and commercial properties in urban areas. Under the mechanism, two bills will be issued during a six-month period towards the annual sanitation fee liability. Property owners will have 60 days from receipt of a bill to make payment, with late payments subject to penalties. The government expects to collect around Rs40 billion annually through the sanitation fee. Data integration between the excise department and Suthra Punjab programme has been completed, allowing sanitation fee records to be linked with property data. The integration has also resulted in the NOC condition being introduced before completion of the province-wide bill distribution. Previously, payment of property tax was required before the NOC could be issued. The requirement has been extended to include payment of the sanitation fee. The development has raised concerns for property owners whose sanitation fee bills have yet to be delivered. The government had approved monthly sanitation charges ranging from Rs300 for residential properties measuring up to five marla to Rs5,000 for over 40 marla. Commercial properties are subject to charges ranging from Rs500 to Rs3,000 depending on their size. The excise department is collecting the sanitation fee alongside property tax. Inspectors in the relevant excise circles have been tasked with delivering the bills to property owners.

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PTI authorises Fazl to mediate between govt, opposition, says Junaid Akbar

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa President Junaid Akbar on Thursday said the party had authorised Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman to play a mediatory role between the government and opposition amid the ongoing political standoff. Speaking on a private television programme, Dunya Mehar Bukhari Kay Sath, Akbar said he had spoken to Maulana Fazl about the need for opposition parties to work together for the supremacy of the Constitution and democracy. He clarified, however, that PTI had not invited the JUI-F chief to join the long march, which, he said, was aimed at securing a meeting with PTI founder Imran Khan, his release and hearings of his cases. Read: Sharjeel Memon accuses K-P CM of 'sabotaging' talks with govt “Our own desire is that we move forward by taking all political parties along,” he said. Akbar said Maulana Fazl himself had requested PTI to delay the long march, telling the party that he would return from Umrah on Oct 7 and play the role of mediator in the matter as he wanted the issues to be resolved through dialogue. He said PTI had always sought to resolve political issues through negotiations, but when it was not heard and given space, taking to the streets remained a constitutional and legal option. “Our effort has always been to resolve issues through negotiations, but when we are not heard and are not given space, the only legal and constitutional option left for us is to come out on the streets,” Akbar said. He said Maulana Fazl had so far not conveyed any offer from the government to PTI. According to Akbar, the only communication so far had been that the government had contacted the JUI-F chief and that Maulana Fazl had subsequently asked PTI whether it wanted him to play a role in the matter. Akbar confirmed that PTI had authorised the JUI-F chief to mediate between the government and opposition over the recent standoff, saying the party had no objection if the government also wanted him to play that role. Asked about negotiations with the government, Akbar said the two sides had “almost” reached an understanding, but the issue of terrorism — on which he said there should be consensus — had been made controversial. Also Read: ‘No way back’: Afridi vows to continue PTI long march as convoy reaches Peshawar He said discussions had been under way about ending the long march and questioned how the issue of military operations and emergency had entered the talks. “Our impression is that the government does not want the issues to be resolved through dialogue,” he said. No decision on parliament boycott Meanwhile, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja dismissed speculation that the party would resign from parliament or boycott the assembly session if governor’s rule or an emergency was imposed. Speaking on a private television programme, Capital Talk, Raja said no decision had so far been taken to resign or boycott the parliamentary session. He said the party would decide after consultation at a meeting of its parliamentary party. Asked about the meeting with Maulana Fazl, Raja said the discussion had covered issues relating to the country’s recent political situation, but categorically denied that the JUI-F chief was playing any mediatory role. Read More: Govt has kept 'all doors of dialogue open' with opposition: parliamentary secretary Raja said the constitutional rights of K-P were “under attack” and that Chief Minister Sohail Afridi was fighting for those rights. “The long march is a political process and our legal and constitutional right. Why should we back down?” he said. He said major decisions in the national interest could be taken if PTI leadership was allowed to meet incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan. Raja said the PTI founder could not be removed from the country’s political arena and maintained that he must be included in any political dialogue.

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Lahore's air quality takes a hit

The city's air quality has deteriorated to unhealthy levels as authorities move to tighten vehicle inspections and crack down on smoke emission ahead of the annual smog season. Lahore's average Air Quality Index (AQI) on Wednesday evening stood at 155, placing the city in the "unhealthy for sensitive groups" category, according to live data from the Punjab Environmental Protection Agency's monitoring network. The readings showed significant variation across the city. Safari Park recorded the highest AQI at 172, followed by Shahdara at 168, Egerton Road 162, DHA Phase 6 at 160 and Wagah Border 159. GT Road recorded 158, Barki Road 157 and Kahna Nau 152, while Multan Road stood at 149 and Punjab University 132. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was a major component of the pollution readings, with concentrations reaching 103.9 microgrammes per cubic metre at Safari Park and 95.6 at Shahdara. The deterioration comes as Lahore enters the period when air pollution typically intensifies, with vehicle emissions, industrial pollution, brick-kiln smoke, crop-residue burning and construction dust among the sources contributing to poor air quality. Lahore was among the world's most polluted major cities in the AQI ranking for Wednesday, with a reading of 156 placing it fifth behind Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Kolkata and Delhi. The rankings are based on live readings and can change significantly within hours depending on weather conditions, emissions and other factors. IQAir's live ranking placed Lahore among the world's 10 most polluted major cities. Against this backdrop, the Punjab Provincial Transport Authority decided to begin a crackdown from October 15 on private vehicles without fitness certificates. The province has around 2.3 million registered private vehicles, while 20 Provincial Vehicle Inspection and Certification System centres have been designated for fitness certification. Of these, 14 are in Lahore, two in Faisalabad and one each in Sargodha, Multan, Sadiqabad and Rahim Yar Khan. The authority has issued fresh instructions to all centres to remain operational round the clock, seven days a week, in order to cope with the expected demand before enforcement begins. The centres have been directed to maintain stocks of inspection stickers. Failure to comply with the instructions will be considered a breach of licensing conditions.

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Vatican envoy set to make first visit to Pakistan for 2-day trip

Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher is set to visit Pakistan from Oct 8 to 10 on the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, the Foreign Office said on Wednesday. “This will be the first-ever visit to Pakistan by a secretary for relations with states and international organisations of the Holy See,” the FO said in a statement. 🔊PR No.2️⃣8️⃣1️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣ Curtain Raiser: Visit of the H.E. Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations of the Holy See, to Pakistan (8-10 October, 2026) 🔗⬇️ pic.twitter.com/aYyLLteJDW — Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) October 7, 2026 The visit coincides with the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and the Holy See. During his visit, Archbishop Gallagher will meet FM Dar to discuss matters of mutual interest, including interfaith harmony, dialogue and peace, as well as regional and international developments. The archbishop is also expected to call on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and interact with members of the Catholic community in Pakistan. The FO said the visit marked an important milestone in the longstanding relations between Pakistan and the Holy See and reflected their shared commitment to further strengthening mutual understanding, cooperation and trust, while promoting interfaith harmony and peace.

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Achakzai refuses talks without consultation with Imran

Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly and Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) Chairman Mahmood Khan Achakzai said on Wednesday that meaningful dialogue between the government and opposition could not produce tangible results unless direct consultations were held with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan. Addressing a public gathering at Baz Muhammad Shaheed Ground in Balochistan's Zhob, Achakzai said all major political leadership must be included in the consultative process to make political dialogue effective and result-oriented. پښتونخوامیپ کے چیئرمین، اپوزیشن لیڈر محمود خان اچکزئی پشتونخوامیپ کے زیر اہتمام شہداء جمہوریت 7 اکتوبر 1983و شہداء وطن 11 اکتوبر 1991 کے برسی کی مناسبت سے ژوب میں منعقد جلسہ عام سے خطاب کررہے ہے pic.twitter.com/Fqw7kmMHlN — Mehmood Khan Achakzai (@MKAchakzaiPKMAP) October 7, 2026 “If one side in negotiations consults its leadership, the opposition must also be allowed to consult Imran Khan,” he said, further adding that he would not participate in formal negotiations until such a meeting was held. Read: PTI: talks deadlocked over Imran access, K-P policy میں نے ان پر واضح کیا کہ خدا کے لیے میری بات سنیں، عمران خان سے ملاقات کیے بغیر اور ان کی رائے جانے بغیر، اگر آپ یا آپ کے ساتھی اس مارچ کو منسوخ یا ملتوی کرتے ہیں، تو اس سے آپ کی بھی رسوائی ہوگی اور میرے ساتھیوں کی بھی۔ میں ایسے کسی عمل میں آپ کے ساتھ نہیں ہوں۔ pic.twitter.com/w6XFq6UYKp — Mehmood Khan Achakzai (@MKAchakzaiPKMAP) October 7, 2026 The PkMAP chairman urged political parties across the political spectrum to develop a common national agenda to tackle the country’s persistent economic and political challenges, adding that political forces needed to rise above partisan interests and work together to address issues confronting the country. Speaking about constitutional and administrative matters, Achakzai called for fresh appointments to the Election Commission of Pakistan, including the chief election commissioner, in accordance with constitutional procedures as the incumbent officials’ terms expire. Read More: PTI dismisses 'mere offer', asks PM to walk the talk On regional developments, he welcomed international diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving issues involving Afghanistan, further noting that the international community had a responsibility to contribute to lasting peace, stability and economic development in the region. پشتونخوامیپ کے زیر اہتمام شہداء جمہوریت 7 اکتوبر 1983و شہداء وطن 11 اکتوبر 1991 کے برسی کی مناسبت سے ژوب میں منعقد جلسہ عام کے مناظر ۔ pic.twitter.com/feOa5eyMzA — Mehmood Khan Achakzai (@MKAchakzaiPKMAP) October 7, 2026 Achakzai also called for unity among local communities and urged the peaceful resolution of disputes through traditional jirgas, saying dialogue and collective efforts could help maintain peace and harmony. PkMAP Central Secretary Nawab Muhammad Ayaz Khan Jogezai and Information Secretary Talimand Khan also addressed the gathering. They highlighted regional development, improved governance and the resolution of local administrative issues.

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