Army Act Amendment Bill passed in senate

Islamabad: The Senate passed the Army Act Amendment Bill today (Thursday).

Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani chaired a meeting of Senate in which Defense Minister Khawaja Asif presented the Army Act Amendment Bill, which was approved by the House.

According to the bill, the unauthorized disclosure of information obtained in the national security and interest in an official capacity will be punished for up to five years. A person making a disclosure with the permission of Army Chief or an authorized officer will not be punished.

The amendment bill stated that anyone who discloses information against the interests of Pakistan and the Pakistan Army will be dealt with under the Official Secrets Act and the Army Act.

A person under this law will not participate in political activity. A person assigned to sensitive duty will not participate in political activity for 05 years, while a person who violates the ban on participating in political activity will be punished for 02 years, the bill stated.

It has been stated in the bill that a person involved in electronic crime, whose aim is to defame the Pakistan Army, will be prosecuted under electronic crime.

The bill further states that defaming the army or spreading hatred against it will be punishable with 02 years of imprisonment and fine under the Army Act.