Washington, Sept 1(ANI): Pakistan's legal system is almost incapable of prosecuting suspected terrorists, according to a US State Department report.
"While Pakistan's law enforcement community continued to pledge to prosecute those responsible for terrorist acts inside Pakistan, a 2010 review by the United States of Pakistan's Anti-Terrorism Court rulings revealed that Pakistan remained plagued by an acquittal rate of approximately 75 percent," the State Department said in its annual report on global terrorism.
The review, in conjunction with information provided by Pakistani law enforcement partners, painted a picture of a legal system almost incapable of prosecuting suspected terrorists.
"The review determined that the accused in numerous high-profile terrorism incidents involving US victims had all been acquitted by the Pakistani legal system," the report said.
It complained that Pakistan's Anti-Terrorism Bill 2010, which proposes 25 amendments, including provisions that broaden the definition of terrorism, expand the authority of law enforcement agencies investigating terrorist incidents, authorize detention of subjects for 90 days before presenting them before a court, and allow increased electronic surveillance and wiretapping, had not progressed in the country's National Assembly.
The US Department of Justice continued to offer assistance to the Government of Pakistan to improve its existing counterterrorism laws, the report added.
The criticisms are contained in the State Department's 'Country Reports on Terrorism 2010' published in August. (ANI)
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