ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Tuesday witnessed a protest by some opposition MNAs, who objected to the government’s move to pass the Official Secrets (Amendment) Bill, 2023, without providing them copies of the proposed legislation. The bill seeks to amend the Official Secrets Act 1923 and make it more effective in view of the changing social milieu to ensure the safety and security of official documents.
The bill was presented as a supplementary agenda item by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Murtaza Javed Abbasi and moved by him in the House. However, as soon as he started reading out the bill, a number of MNAs, including Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali from Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), rose from their seats and raised slogans against the bill. They accused the government of pushing through the bill in haste and violating the parliamentary norms and procedures. They demanded that they should be given copies of the bill and time to study it before voting on it.
However, Deputy Speaker Zahid Akram Durrani ignored the protest and continued with legislative business, while directing his staff to provide copies of the bill to members. He said that the bill was important for national security and interest and that it had already been approved by the relevant standing committee. He also said that the bill was not controversial and that it had been discussed with all stakeholders. He urged the members to cooperate with the government and pass the bill unanimously.
The bill was then passed by a majority vote amid a walkout by some opposition members. The bill has broadened the definitions of military installations and bring digital and modern means of communication into the law’s ambit. According to experts, this could bring vloggers and bloggers within the ambit of the law as well. The bill also empowers the intelligence agencies to raid and arrest any citizen over the suspected breach of official secrets, while simply disclosing the name of a secret agent will also be considered an offence.
The lower house of parliament also passed two other government bills; the Toshakhana Management and Regulation Bill, 2023, and the Airport Authority Bill, 2023, both through a supplementary agenda. The two bills have already been approved by the Senate.