Opposition walks out as Punjab Assembly passes controversial Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill 2026

On Monday, the Punjab Assembly approved the contentious Punjab Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2026, amidst objections and a complete walkout by opposition lawmakers. The heated debate centered on legal and constitutional implications of the new legislation, with Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan ruling that the bill could be placed on the agenda based on Article 142 of the Constitution.

Khan reminisced about Pakistan's 1990s terrorism, which claimed over 100,000 lives, including high-profile figures, and attacks on places of worship. He argued that terrorists often avoided justice due to insufficient witness protection and security, and suggested the opposition propose constructive amendments instead of blocking the bill.

Opposition leader Moin Riaz Qureshi vehemently opposed the law, labeling it "draconian" and a "bill to crush the citizens of Punjab." He accused the ruling government of introducing the amendment to target political rivals, similar to previous defamation and National Accountability Bureau laws. Qureshi raised concerns over a provision enabling a Grade-20 designated official to advise the chief justice of the Lahore High Court on classifying cases as "special security cases."

Opposition lawmaker Ahmar Rashid Bhatti compared the proposed law to a 1909 British colonial-era act opposed by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, warning that hiding the identities and voices of judges, prosecutors, defence lawyers, and witnesses would violate Article 10-A of the Constitution, which guarantees a fair and transparent trial. Following the intense debate, the opposition walked out of the hall, rejecting their proposed amendments and allowing the House to approve the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2026.