LAHORE: Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Moeenuddin Riaz Qureshi on Thursday approached the Lahore High Court against recent amendments to the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, allowing terrorism cases to be tried under a confidential regime in which the identities of judges, prosecutors, defence counsel and witnesses may be concealed.
The petition, filed through his counsel, challenged the insertion of Section 21AAA into the Act, which creates a mechanism for designating certain cases as “special security cases” where participants are considered to require extraordinary protection.
Qureshi contended that the provision violated constitutional guarantees relating to due process, fair trial and dignity under Articles 9, 10-A and 14 of the Constitution. He also questioned the legal framework allowing the confidential regime to be applied to such cases. The petitioner asked the LHC to declare the impugned amendments unconstitutional and void and suspend their operation during the pendency of the petition.
He further sought an order restraining the authorities from classifying any case as a “special security case” until the court decides the constitutional challenge.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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