In Islamabad, on Saturday, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman andformer prime minister challenged recent amendments to the Official SecretsAct and Pakistan Army Act in the Supreme Court.
The PTI Chairman, Imran Khan, filed a petition through his advocateShohaib Shaheen in the apex court. This petition challenges the recentamendments to the Army Act 1952 under Article 184 of the Constitution ofPakistan. One of the main arguments presented in the petition is that thesenew clauses infringe upon human rights. Respondents named in the petitioninclude President and PTI member Dr. Arif Alvi, the Government of Pakistan,and the National Assembly.
The petition seeks the repeal of both the Official Secrets Act and the ArmyAmendment Act. The petition explicitly states, “The Army Amendment Act andthe Official Secrets Act were not signed by the President. The ArmyAmendment Act and the Official Secrets Act were contrary to Article 10A,Article 8, and Article 19.”
Previously, President Arif Alvi publicly denied signing the OfficialSecrets (Amendment) Bill 2023 and Pakistan Army Act (Amendment) Bill 2023.He expressed his disagreement with these laws and stated that he hadinstructed his staff to return the bills unsigned within the specified timeframe to render them ineffective. It’s worth noting that both bills werepassed by the parliament during the coalition government’s tenure and weresubsequently sent to President Alvi for ratification.
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Regarding the Army Act, the bill outlines severe penalties of up to fiveyears for the unauthorized disclosure of information related to nationalsecurity, with exceptions if the disclosure is authorized by the Army Chiefor an empowered officer. The bill also restricts officials subject to thelaw from engaging in political activities for two years followingretirement, resignation, or dismissal.Additionally, it addresses electroniccrimes aimed at defaming the Pakistan Army.
Concerning the Official Secrets Act, the bill emphasizes the need foramendments to ensure the safety and security of official documents in achanging social environment. It specifies offenses related to approachingprohibited places, creating materials useful to an enemy, and obtaining,collecting, or communicating secret official information. Amendments toSection 9 introduce penalties for incitement, conspiracy, and attemptedoffenses under this Act, including imprisonment and fines.
