6
(c) The use or threat is made for the purpose of advancing a religious,
sectarian or ethnic cause, or intimidating and terrorizing the public,
social sectors, media persons, business community or attacking the
civilians, including damaging property by ransacking, looting, arson or by
any other means, government officials, installations, security forces or
law enforcement agencies, provided that nothing herein contained shall
apply to a democratic and religious rally or a peaceful demonstration in
accordance with law.
As a result of the highly vague wording of sub-sections (b) and (c), the
requirements for a case to be deemed an ‘act of terror’ have often been met in
circumstances which, on objective analysis, were far removed from terrorism as
properly understood. In the view of the judge in Zafar Iqbal’s case (see Case Study
on page 17), for instance, “the cold blooded murder of father by his son” was
“itself sufficient to create the sense of insecurity and terror in the people of the
locality”.
“TERRORISM IS HARDLY THE ONLY ENTERPRISE
INVOLVING VIOLENCE AND THE THREAT OF VIOLENCE.
SO DOES WAR, COERCIVE DIPLOMACY, AND BAR ROOM
BRAWLS." Walter Laqueur, The New Terrorism:
Fanaticism and the Arms of Mass Destruction, 1999 2
Whilst there is no doubt that a killing might well have an effect on those living in
the locality, to deem that any such ‘fear’ or ‘insecurity’ is in itself sufficient to
classify that defendant as a ‘terrorist’ – and cause him to lose a number of his
fundamental rights and face almost certain conviction and death sentence in an
anti-terrorism court - cannot be justified.
Section 6(2) of the ATA lists a full 16 categories of action which can be considered
to fall within the meaning of ‘terrorism’ as set out above. Whilst some of these are
actions which would immediately be understood as ‘terrorist acts’, the list also
includes the actions of extorting money (Section 6(2)(k)); disseminating ideas on
FM stations without government approval (Section 6(2)(p)); inciting hatred and
contempt (Section 6(2)(f)); and causing grievous damage to property (Section
6(2)(c)).
Adding yet further uncertainty, the Government may add to this list at any time,
without recourse to Parliament. 3