President signs official secret amendment bill act, army act amendment bill

ISLAMABAD (Online): President Arif Alvi has signed official secret amendment bill act and army act amendment bill.

Following the endorsement by the president Arif Alvi, Official secret act amendment bill has become law and stern action will be taken against the violators of law under this bill.

Any one found involved in leaking the information or documents against the interest of Pakistan will be considered guilty of offence.

According to National Assembly (NA) Secretariat army act was approved on July 31 in joint session of parliament. This bill was sent to the president of endorsement on August 01.

The previous NA had approved official secret act before expiry of its tenure.

When Official secret act amendment bill was presented in Senate, government allies along with the opposition expressed their displeasure. Raza Rabbani of PPP tore up the copies of several bills. Pakistan Bar Council had strongly condemned the amendment in official secret act.

Pakistan bar council said federal government should immediately withdraw official secret act amendment bill forthwith. Bar will oppose every step against the supremacy of constitution and rule of law.

The bar council said through this bill, intelligence agencies have been given free hand to arrest any citizen and search any citizen or place without search warrant due to this amendment.

Under army act if any one is found involved in electronic crimes which are aimed at defaming Pakistan army then he will be proceeded against under electronic crimes.

If any person maligns army or foments hatred against it he will be awarded imprisonment upto two years in jail and will be fined.