The Ministry of Law and Justice issued a statement on Sunday expressing ‘grave concern’ over President Arif Alvi’s recent tweet, state-run Radio Pakistan reported.
In a statement issued shortly after the president took to X, formerly Twitter, to distance himself from the Official Secrets (Amendment) Bill Act 2023, which was signed into law on August 19 (Saturday) along with the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Act 2023, the law ministry said that the president should “take responsibility for his own actions”.
The Law ministry reacting to the statement expressed grave concern, saying the president hadn’t abided by the Article 75 of the Constitution.
“As per Article 75 of the Constitution, when a bill is sent for assent the President has two options: either give assent, or refer the matter to the parliament with specific observations,” the Law ministry said in a press release, which was also shared by Radio Pakistan.
“Article 75 does not provide for any third option.
“In the instant matter, neither of the requirements were fulfilled. Instead, the President purposely delayed the assent.”
The ministry explained that returning the bills without any observations or assent is not provided for in Pakistan’s constitution.
“Such a course of action is against the letter and spirit and the Constitution.
“If the President had any observations, he could have returned the bills with his observations like he did in the recent and distant past. He could have also issued a press release to that effect.”
The Law ministry lamented that Alvi, the Head of State, had chosen to discredit his own officials. “The President should take responsibility for his own actions”.
