Members of India's Union Cabinet agreed Friday to a withdrawal of a controversial anti-terror law that some have alleged has been misused against Muslims in the country. The Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) was passed following a deadly 2001 attack on the Indian parliament. According to Indian Home Minister Shivraj Patil, the act was faulty due to harsh bail provisions and a higher burden of proof on the accused party rather than on prosecutors.

The government planned to amend the much-older Unlawful Activities Prevention Act to cover terrorism. POTA will be phased out over the next year, with pending cases under the law being reviewed. The Press Trust of India has local coverage. A report by Amnesty International earlier this year heavily criticized POTA. BBC News has more.