ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) announced taking action against party Senators who voted for the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
The legislation proposes up to five years imprisonment for anyone who discloses sensitive information pertaining to the army or maligns the armed forces. The upper house of parliament on July 27 approved the bill to amend the Pakistan Army Act, 1952, with a majority vote.
The PTI’s core committee meeting chaired by Imran Khan decided to take disciplinary action against those lawmakers “found guilty of deviating from the party policy in connection with the approval of the Army Act in the Senate.”
The party announced to form a one-member commission led by Senator Shibli Faraz to conduct its probe immediately into the role of PTI’s senators in the approval of the bill and present recommendations to the party chairman.
In light of the commission’s recommendations, the party will take disciplinary action against those found guilty of deviating from the party line.
The core committee meeting also discussed matters related to the prevailing political situation, preparations for the next general elections, and the party’s political strategy.
The bill titled ‘Pakistan Army (Amendment) Act, 2023’ was moved by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and hurriedly passed in the Senate.
The bill states that those who disclose information against the interests of the country or the Pakistan Army will be dealt with under the Official Secrets Act and the Army Act.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Senator Raza Rabbani had staged a walkout from the house, terming the approval of multiple bills in a day as “blind legislation”.
Rabbani said that the manner in which the bills were passed today is a “dark day” and added that these are very important bills but the members got these today.
