Pakistan Punjab's secret trial law 'glaring attack' on fair trial rights: Amnesty
Synopsis
Amnesty International has called Pakistan's new Punjab anti-terrorism amendment a 'glaring attack' on fair trial rights — and the stakes are enormous. The law covers 50.9% of Pakistan's population, creates a framework for fully secret trials, and could trigger copycat legislation in other provinces if it survives the Lahore High Court challenge now under way.
Key Takeaways
Amnesty International has condemned Pakistan 's Anti-Terrorism (Punjab Amendment) Act, 2026 as a severe threat to the right to a fair trial.
The amendment was passed by the Punjab provincial Assembly on 31 August 2026 , despite opposition walkouts and unresolved constitutional objections.
The law enables trials conducted in complete secrecy, going beyond permissible exceptions under international human rights law.
Punjab accounts for 50.9% of Pakistan's total population, giving the law sweeping reach.
Multiple petitions, including one by opposition leader Moeenuddin Riaz Qureshi , are pending before the Lahore High Court .
Rights groups warn the amendment could set a precedent, leading other provinces to enact similar secret-trial legislation.
Amnesty International on 10 October 2026 raised grave concern over Pakistan's Anti-Terrorism (Punjab Amendment) Act, 2026, warning that the legislation paves the way for secret trials and constitutes a severe threat to the right to a fair trial under international human rights law. The amendment applies to Punjab, Pakistan's most populous province, home to 50.9% of the country's total population.
What the Amendment Does
The legislation, passed by the Punjab provincial Assembly on 31 August 2026, amends the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), 1997. According to Amnesty International, it creates a mechanism for trials conducted in complete secrecy, going beyond permissible exceptions to fair trial rights — including the right to a public hearing — recognised under international human rights law.
The rights body described the amendment as building on an already draconian legal framework that has historically been used to proscribe human rights defenders, arbitrarily detain dissidents on vague charges, and secure heavy convictions for activists for offences that, critics argue, should not exist in law.
How It Was Passed — and Who Objected
The amendment's passage was contentious. Four days before the final vote, the speaker of the assembly deferred proceedings after an opposition member raised constitutional and procedural objections. Despite those concerns remaining unresolved, the same version of the bill was put to a vote on 31 August. Opposition members walked out in protest during the floor session, yet the bill passed.
The governor subsequently assented to the bill, even as civil society groups publicly appealed for it to be returned to the assembly for review on fair trial grounds. Amnesty International noted that the amendment had drawn criticism from both opposition parties and civil society before and during its passage.
Legal Challenges Under Way
The law is already facing judicial scrutiny. Several petitions have been filed before the Lahore High Court challenging the amendment, including one by Moeenuddin Riaz Qureshi, the leader of the opposition in the Punjab Assembly. The outcome of these proceedings is being closely watched by legal experts and rights groups.
Risk of a 'Knock-On Effect' Across Pakistan
Amnesty International warned that if the Punjab amendment is allowed to stand and be implemented, it could trigger a ripple effect across Pakistan's other provinces, each of which could enact similar legislation. The concern is particularly acute given Punjab's demographic weight — any legal precedent set there carries outsized national significance.
'The secret trials established by this amendment will sit on top of a parallel legal system that is already prone to miscarriages of justice; the added layer of secrecy will exacerbate these issues by limiting independent oversight and transparency of trials under the ATA,' Amnesty International stated.
Broader Context: ATA's Track Record
This is not the first time Pakistan's anti-terrorism legal framework has drawn international censure. The ATA's Fourth Schedule — which allows for the proscription of individuals — has reportedly been used against grassroots movements, journalists, and civil society organisations. The 2026 amendment, critics argue, deepens existing vulnerabilities rather than correcting them. Amnesty International stressed that human rights cannot be subordinated to counterterrorism imperatives and must be upheld in all circumstances. The case is now before the courts, and legal proceedings at the Lahore High Court are expected to shape whether the law survives constitutional scrutiny.
Point of View
It entrenches it. Passing a secret-trial mechanism over explicit opposition objections, without even addressing the constitutional queries raised on the floor, signals that due process was treated as an inconvenience rather than a constraint. The risk of provincial contagion is real: once Punjab normalises closed-door terrorism trials, other assemblies face lower political barriers to follow. The Lahore High Court challenge is the only meaningful check left, and its outcome will test whether Pakistan's judiciary can hold the line where the legislature and the governor did not.
NationPress
10 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Pakistan's Anti-Terrorism (Punjab Amendment) Act, 2026?
It is an amendment to Pakistan's Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), 1997, passed by the Punjab provincial Assembly on 31 August 2026. The amendment creates a mechanism for conducting trials in complete secrecy, which Amnesty International says exceeds permissible exceptions to the right to a fair trial under international human rights law.
Why is Amnesty International criticising the law?
Amnesty International argues that the amendment enables secret trials, deepens the misuse potential of an already draconian law, and violates international human rights standards on fair trial and public hearing rights. It also notes the law was passed despite unresolved constitutional objections raised by opposition members.
Who is challenging the law and where?
Several petitions have been filed before the Lahore High Court challenging the amendment, including one by Moeenuddin Riaz Qureshi, the leader of the opposition in the Punjab Assembly. The cases are currently pending judicial scrutiny.
Why does this matter beyond Punjab?
Punjab is Pakistan's most populous province, covering 50.9% of the country's total population. Rights groups warn that if the law is implemented without challenge, it could trigger a 'knock-on effect', prompting other provinces to pass similar secret-trial legislation.
How was the bill passed despite opposition?
Four days before the vote, the assembly speaker deferred proceedings after an opposition member raised constitutional and procedural concerns. However, the same unrevised bill was passed on 31 August 2026 amid an opposition walkout. The governor subsequently assented to the bill despite civil society appeals for a review.
