Senate passes Army Act amendment bill proposing two-year jail term, fine for defaming army

ISLAMABAD (92 News) - The Senate on Thursday passed a bill to amend the Pakistan Army Act 1952, proposing two-year jail term and fine for defaming the army.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif tabled the bill namely 'Pakistan Army (Amendment) Act, 2023. The bill also proposed 'anyone who discloses or causes to be disclosed any information, acquired in official capacity, which is or may be prejudicial to the security and interest of Pakistan or the armed forces of Pakistan, shall be […] punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years'.

The bill further said that those who have 'remained posted, employed, seconded, tasked or otherwise attached on sensitive duties', forbidding them from taking part in 'political activity of any kind, during a period of five years from the date of his retirement, release, resignation, discharge, removal or dismissal from the service'.

The bill also proposes to introduce Sections 55-A (conflict of interest), 55-B (electronic crimes) and 55-C (defamation). Section 55-A forbids any persons subject to the Army Act in the past five years from 'directly or indirectly enter[ing] into employment, consultation or other engagement with an entity having conflict of interest; with the activities of the Pakistan Army or its affiliates.

Moreover, the House also passed the Cantonments Act, DHA Act and Board of Investment Amendment Bill.