The Senate has referred the Official Secrets (Amendment) Bill, 2023 to the standing committee concerned after facing fierce opposition from both sides of the aisle.
The bill, known as the Official Secrets (Amendment) Bill, 2023, was passed by the National Assembly (NA) on Tuesday, aimed at granting excessive powers to intelligence agencies.
According to today’s Senate agenda, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan was expected to move the bill for passing. However, in his absence, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar presented the bill, leading to loud protests from both the treasury and opposition benches.
Prior to the bill’s presentation, senators from both sides strongly criticized the legislative process witnessed in the upper house during the past week.
Jamaat-i-Islami Senator Mushtaq Ahmed expressed dismay at the recent flood of legislations during the outgoing government’s last days, questioning the urgency of such strategic bills like the Federal Urdu University of Arts, Sciences and Technology, Islamabad (Amendment) Bill, 2023, HEC Amendment Bill 2023, and the Official Secrets (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
PPP Senator Raza Rabbani’s criticism was even more vehement, stating that new traditions were being set, eroding individual parliamentarians’ rights to propose amendments and exercise their conscience.
In a symbolic gesture, he tore up a copy of the Federal Urdu University of Arts, Sciences and Technology, Islamabad (Amendment) Bill, highlighting his strong dissent.
Following that, Senate Chairperson Sadiq Sanjrani said the Official Secrets (Amendment) Bill, 2023 stood referred to the standing committee.
The proposed amendments to the Official Secrets Act have raised significant concerns. They broaden the definitions of military installations and bring digital and modern means of communication under the law’s ambit.
The definition of a “document” has been expanded to include various forms of tangible and intangible instruments related to the military’s procurements and capabilities.
Additionally, the definition of an “enemy” introduced in the proposed law includes any person directly or indirectly working for a foreign power, foreign agent, non-state actor, or group acting against Pakistan’s safety and interests.
One of the most contentious amendments in Section 11 grants intelligence agencies vast powers to enter and search any person or place without a warrant and seize any document or evidence they believe to be connected to an offense under the relevant law.
Despite the strong opposition and concerns over the rushed legislative process, the Official Secrets (Amendment) Bill, 2023 has now been referred to the standing committee for further deliberation.
