ISLAMABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain on Thursday promulgated an ordinance to further amend the Anti-terrorism Act, 1997 which has come into force at once.

Under the Anti-terrorism (Amendment) Ordinance, 2013, shoot-on-site powers have been given to civil armed forces for maintenance of peace in the country but it provides them a ‘very short’ time for investigation.

The previous Anti-Terrorism Act-1997 had permitted the civil armed forces to shoot only when they were fired open.

Electronic evidences would be acceptable while the judges, public prosecutors and witnesses would be given protection under the new law.

After receiving credible information and reasonable complaints, order will be issued for the preventive detention of any person, for a period of three months, involved in target killing, kidnapping for ransom, extortion or the maintenance of supplies or services.

The three month detention of accused is believed to be ‘insufficient’ time to submit Challan (preliminary investigation report) before the concerned courts.