Senators oppose special powers for security forces

ISLAMABAD: Senators on Friday decried government’s decision to give special powers to the army and civil armed forces in Balochistan, allowing security forces to detain suspects of terrorism for three months.

The lawmakers expressed their concern over the issue a day after the federal cabinet approved an amendment to the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) 1997, giving sweeping powers to the security forces for “more effective counterterrorism operations”.

While speaking in the parliament,...