Amended Official Secrets Act challenged in LHC

Lahore:  A petition has been filed on Monday in Lahore High Court (LHC) challenging amended Official Secrets Act.

In the petition submitted by Mohammad Muqsit Saleem's attorney, the federal government, the ministries of the law and the interior, have been joined as parties.

The modified Official Secrets Act, according to the petitioner, is extra-constitutional legislation that gives the agencies unconstitutional authority.

According to the law, intelligence agencies are authorized to detain any individual without a warrant.

As per petition, an arrested individual could not be forcedfully brought before a magistrate's court.

The petitioner claimed that the constitution protects basic human rights as well as civil liberties.

It has been requested that the high court declare the modified Official Secrets Act's clauses 2, 4, and 11 to be void.

Additionally, the petitioner asked the court to grant a temporary halt to the enforcement of the statute pending the outcome of the case.

The Senate on Sunday passed the amended Official Secrets Act after government withdrew a controversial clause that was criticized by the treasury and opposition benches in the house over unbridled powers delegated to intelligence agencies.