Pakistan: Secret trials allowed under Punjab anti-terror law
Amnesty International
October 9, 2026
The Anti-Terrorism (Punjab Amendment) Act, 2026, passed by the provincial assembly in Punjab province on 31 August 2026, to amend the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 (henceforth referred as “ATA”) is a glaring attack on the right to fair trial in Pakistan. The amendment creates 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. This amendment deepens concerns regarding past misuse of anti-terrorism laws that has resulted in grave human rights violations.
