PTI announces action against senators involved in approval of Pakistan Army Amendment Act

Lahore: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Saturday announced that it would take action against its Senators involved in voting the recently-passed Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which allows five years jail for anyone who unveils sensitive information about the army or aims at the armed forces in any way.

PTI's core committee, with party chief Imran Khan in chair, made this decision in a meeting held earlier on Saturday.

The upper house of parliament on July 27 passed the bill to amend the Pakistan Army Act, 1952.

The PTI announced the disciplinary action against those lawmakers who deviated from the party policy in connection with the approval of the Army Act in the Senate.

According to the party, Senator Shibli Faraz-led one-member commission would investigate the role of PTI’s senators in the approval of the bill and would present its recommendations to the party chairman.

The disciplinary action would be taken against those found guilty of deviating from the party line in light of the recommendations of the commission.

The meeting also discussed the matters related to the prevailing political situation in the country, preparations for the next general elections, the party’s political strategy, and other issues.

A day earlier , Defence Minister Khawaja Asif moved the bill titled “Pakistan Army (Amendment) Act, 2023". The bill made it clear that those who disclosed information against the interests of the country or the Pakistan Army would be tried under the Official Secrets Act and the Army Act.

"If any person, who is or has been subject to this Act, discloses or causes to be disclosed any information, acquired in an official capacity, which is or may be prejudicial to the security and interest of Pakistan or the Armed Forces of Pakistan, shall be guilty of an offence, and on conviction by the court constituted under this Act, be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years," the bill reads.

Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Senator Mian Raza Rabbani also protested against the bill and staged a walkout from the house. Raz Rabbani said the approval of multiple bills in a day was nothing but “blind legislation”.

He was of the view that the manner in which the bills were passed today was a “dark day”.