NA passes Army Act amendment bill

Islamabad: The National Assembly on Monday passed seven government bills including the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill, 2023 which aims to amend the Pakistan Army Act 1952.

The proposal was made in the National Assembly by Law Minister Nazir Tarar. Unauthorized publication of material pertaining to national security and interests will be punished after the Army Act Amendment Bill 2023 is passed, and the offender would face a 5-year prison sentence.

The bill states that any disclosure-related action against Pakistan and its military forces would be taken into consideration, and the offending party shall be prosecuted under the Official Secrets Act and the Army Act.

The person is prohibited by law from engaging in political activity, and they are prohibited from doing so for two years after retiring, quitting their job, or being fired.

Political activity will be prohibited for anyone working in sensitive positions for a period of five years, and offenders would face a hefty two-year prison sentence. The computer Crimes Act will be used to prosecute anyone who violates the Army Act and is involved in computer crime. Anyone who promotes hatred or disparages the military will receive a 2-year prison sentence.

Tarar stated that the amendments to the Army Act will not apply to civilians, and the bill will have no impact on the ongoing case in the Supreme Court. Armed forces personnel with dual citizenship will not be allowed to participate in politics in Pakistan, he added.

Three bills were approved after the passage of a motion to suspend the rules for immediate consideration of these legislative proposals.

The bills include the Pakistan Sovereign Wealth Fund Bill, 2023; the National Commission for Human Development (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and the Federal Urdu University of Arts, Sciences and Technology, Islamabad (Amendment) Bill, 2023.

The Pakistan Sovereign Wealth Fund Bill, 2023, which was introduced by Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar, was adopted by the House along with the changes he suggested.

The establishment of the Pakistan Sovereign Wealth Fund, according to the Minister of Law and Justice who introduced the bill, will promote economic development through the management of funds and assets to achieve their best use in accordance with the highest international standards.