Pakistan’s Punjab allows ‘secret’ terrorism trials: Why it’s controversial

The Punjab Provincial Assembly passed a law on August 31, 2026, allowing terrorism trials to be conducted in near-total secrecy, with judges, prosecutors, and witnesses permitted to remain anonymous. The law has faced criticism from opposition politicians, lawyers, and rights groups, who argue it centralizes significant power in an unnamed official. Additionally, a designated bureaucrat will have the authority to decide which cases are heard under these special provisions, with vague criteria for such decisions.