ISLAMABAD, Sept 8: Pakis tan s new anti terrorism law has restored normalcy to the violence-torn Punjab province, claims the government but its political opponents and even allies do not approve of the harsh measure, according to India Abroad News Service.

The fear of the new Antl-Terrorism Act (ATA), passed by Parliament in mid August, has silenced the guns of sectarian terrorists, said a senior gov ernment official

Since its enactment, there has not been a single violent encounter between police and terrorists In Punjab which wit nessed unprecedented sectarian violence in the last few months, the official told IANS

Under the ATA. law enforcers can arrest or shoot a person even on a suspicion of terrorist intent. Observers say this is an extreme power given to the police force which has

been accused, even by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif himself, of being corrupt and ruthless.

Critics of the ATA describe the new powers given to police as "a licence to kill " Detractors of the Sharif government and International human rights bodies, including Amnesty International, say ATA will en courage rights abuse by law en-

However, Sharif has defended the ATA as needed to curb rising terrorist violence which it has helped control. "We have started a crusade against terrorism, sectarianism." he said

Under the ATA. trial of a terrorist act or "heinous” crimes. Including gang-rape, must begin within seven days and a judgement must be handed down within a similar period. In another seven days, the convicted person can appeal to a special

bench of a High Court, which must also decide within a siml lar period. The High Court's decision on the lower court s verdict will be final and there will be no appeal against the tribunal's judgement.

Only Iwo special courts set up under the Act in Punjab have so far given their verdict; one on the rape and murder of a minor girl, for which the accused was sentenced to death. In the second, a person convicted of murder was awarded capital punishment. However, neither of the two convicts was a terrorist

Officials claim that terrorist violence has almost disappeared after the setting up of the special courts. But they still fear a resurgence of sectarian violence There are apprehen sions that the terrorists would strike again when special courts send their colleagues to

the gallows under the ATA. The prevailing calm does not mean that sectarian terrorism has come to an end they say

Although the subdued violence. even if temporary, has given respite to the Sharif gov ernment. it is facing flak for the harsh nature of the ATA.

"It is a draconian law. " says former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto who alleges that it will be used to "victimise" the government's political opponents.

Sharifs own coalition part ners - the Mohajlr Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) — and the legal fraternity have also been critical of the ATA.

The law has now been questioned In court with the Lahore High Court to rule on a petition challenging its validity on the ground that It infringes fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution.