The Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 is a Pakistani law that was enacted to provide a legal framework for the prevention and control of terrorism in the country.
Pakistan has been plagued by terrorism for several decades, with numerous attacks targeting civilians, government officials, and security forces.
The government of Pakistan recognized the need for a legal framework to combat terrorism and enacted the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 in response to the growing threat.
The Act also empowers law enforcement agencies to take a range of measures to prevent and control terrorism, including the power to arrest and detain suspects, conduct searches and seizures, and intercept communications.
The bill introduced several new provisions, including the power to detain suspects for up to 90 days without charge and the establishment of a new appellate tribunal to hear appeals against decisions of the special trial courts.