Secrets Act (Amendment) Bill sent to standing committee amid ruckus
Pakistan
Secrets Act (Amendment) Bill sent to standing committee amid ruckus
ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) – Opposition parties staged a protest demonstration in the Senate proceedings when the Official Secrets (Amendment) Bill 2023 was tabled.
Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar tabled the bill in the Senate, which invited strong opposition from both sides - the opposition and the treasury.
The government allies were stood divided over the bill.
Besides opposition, the Pakistan Peoples Party, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), the Jamat-i-Islami, the MQM and Senator Afnanullah strongly opposed the bill.
Senate chairman Sadiq Sanjrani has referred the Official Secrets (Amendment) Bill 2023 to the standing committee concerned amid apposition from parliamentarians.
“Definition of a “document” has also been broadened including “any written, unwritten, electronic, digital, or any other tangible or intangible instrument” related to the military’s procurements and capabilities.”
Similarly, the definition of “enemy” introduced in the proposed law defines: “Any person who is directly or indirectly, intentionally or unintentionally working for or engaged with a foreign power, foreign agent, non-state actor, organisation, entity, association or group guilty of a particular act… prejudicial to the safety and interest of Pakistan.”
- Legislators Take -
“The past week’s legislative process had turned the house into a “joke” globally and on social media, too, and “we are ourselves violating our rules and regulations”, Jamaat-i-Islami Senator Mushtaq Ahmed said.
In the last days of the government, he expressed his wonder that why a floodgate of legislations was opened and the government having few days in hands should not take up such legislation, he cautioned.
New tradition was being introduced in the country, said PPP Senator Raza Rabbani who presented his view point in strong words.
“I am feeling that I am in a “princely state” rather the Senate”, he said, adding: “I am blindfolded and handcuffed.”
He said being the senator his right to move an amendment against a law according to his conscience was being taken away from him for the last 10 days.
Rabbani shredded a copy of the Federal Urdu University of Arts, Sciences and Technology, Islamabad (Amendment) Bill and his action attracted the desk thumping from some members.
Senator Kamran Murtaza of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Fazl also expressed his view point on the Federal Urdu University of Arts, Sciences and Technology, Islamabad (Amendment) Bill, citing although his party was part of the government alliance, it does mean that they could not voice their opinion.
