The Criminal Procedure Code (Special Provisions) Amendment Bill seeking approval of Parliament to extend the period for holding a suspect in police custody from 24 hours under normal law to 48 hours before producing him or her before a magistrate will be presented in Parliament today.

The Bill was made a law in 2007 as a temporary provision for two years on the grounds that police need more than 24-hours to complete investigations of arrested suspects.

The provision also gives powers to the Attorney General to serve direct indictments against suspects in cases of special relevance.