In a massive development to deal with terrorism after the implementation of the new anti-terror law, Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar and Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Muhammad Saeed were on Wednesday declared individual terrorists by the government. The decisions have been taken nearly a month after Parliament approved a crucial amendment to The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act, 1967. The Home MInistry notification statement declaring the two as individual terrorists said: "And whereas, the central government believes that Maulana Masood Azhar is involved in terrorism and Maulana Masood Azhar is to be notified as a terrorist under the said Act..."And whereas, the central government believes that Hafiz Muhammad Saeed is involved in terrorism and Hafiz Muhammad Saeed is to be notified as a terrorist under the said Act..."

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What is the Unlawful Activities Prevention Amendment (UAPA) Bill 2019?

The Rajya Sabha passed the Unlawful Activities Prevention Amendment (UAPA) Bill with 147-42 vote margin after a fiery debate on the floor of the parliamentary house. Earlier, the Lok Sabha passed the Bill with a ratio of 287:8 MPs voting on it. According to PRS, this bill is an extension of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 which amends the Act providing special procedures to counter terrorist activities, giving the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in particular additional powers while dealing with terrorism cases. The Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha by the Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah, on July 8, 2019

Here are the four major amendments specified in the Bill, as explained by PRS:

• Definition of Terrorist:

Previously, under the Act, the Central government could designate an organisation as a terrorist organisation if it does any of the following acts:

(i) commits or participates in acts of terrorism
(ii) prepares for terrorism
(iii) promotes terrorism
(iv) is otherwise involved in terrorism

The Bill adds the same clauses to individuals, empowering the government to designate an individiual as 'terrorist' on the same grounds.

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• NIA can conduct investigations:

While the Act specified that terror cases may be investigated by officers of the rank of Deputy Superintendent or Assistant Commissioner of Police or above, the Bill specifies that NIA officers of the rank of Inspector or above may investigate cases.

• NIA Approval for seizure of property:

Under the UAPA Act, every investigating officer was required to obtain the prior approval of the Director-General of Police if he wished to seize properties linked with terrorism. The Bill adds the clause that if the investigation is conducted by an NIA officer, he approval of the Director-General of NIA would be required for the same.

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• Inclusion of another treaty in Act:

The Act defined terror acts to nclude acts committed in the scope of any of the treaties listed in the Schedule list of the Act which lists nine treaties. Some of the major treaties listed are the Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings (1997), and the Convention against Taking of Hostages (1979). 

To update the Act according to recent terror activities, the Bill adds the International Convention for Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (2005) to the Schedule list of treaties.  

Hafiz Saeed, Masood Azhar will be first to be declared terrorists once new law comes into effect