The federal government is anticipated to approve a proposal for the establishment of “internment centers” for terror suspects in Balochistan, according to sources cited.
Under this plan, law enforcement agencies, including the military, would be granted special powers to detain terror suspects for up to three months without an FIR (First Information Report) or court orders.
The proposal includes setting up dedicated internment centers, which, while potentially bearing different names, would function similarly to those previously established in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
This approach, which has been used in areas such as North and South Waziristan, Swat, and other tribal regions, includes internment centers that sometimes offer de-radicalization and rehabilitation programs for militants who have surrendered or been captured.
The federal government had already authorized special powers for security forces in Balochistan as of September 6. This decision comes in the wake of a series of devastating terrorist attacks on August 26, which claimed the lives of over 50 people, including security personnel. The banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for these attacks, which targeted multiple districts.
Balochistan has long struggled with law and order issues, but this incident marked one of the deadliest attacks in recent history.
In response, the federal government and relevant stakeholders have been reviewing the security situation and considering new measures.
The proposed powers are reminiscent of those granted under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa following the 2014 Army Public School attack in Peshawar. These powers had a two-year duration and now the government seeks to amend the ATA of 1997 to introduce similar measures for Balochistan.
Internment centers are used in counterterrorism efforts to detain individuals suspected of terrorist activities, often captured during military operations or security raids.
