‘Controversial’ PPO begets Opposition's walkout from NA

ISLAMABAD: The opposition parties in the National Assembly staged a walkout today after ‘controversial’ Pakistan Protection Ordinance (PPO) was presented in the house, ARY News reported Wednesday.

The opposition parties call the proposed law as controversial and against the human rights values. The opposition had also previously staged a walkout when the bill was tabled in the lower house.

The law allows law enforcement agencies to detain a person, suspected of any criminal activity, for a period of 90 days. Under the law, law enforcers are not bound to public information regarding special courts with regard to criminal case proceedings.

Law enforcers are also allowed to fire at a suspect in terrorism-related incidents. Opposition parties have apprehension that law could be misused by law enforcers.

The amendments in the PPO were adopted in January through presidential ordinance.