The Upper House approved the Official Secrets Act Amendment Bill clause by clause
The Senate passed the Official Secrets Act Amendment Bill 2023 by a majority vote. The government withdrew the Prevention of Violence and Extremism Bill.
The Official Secrets Act Amendment Bill was presented by Prime Minister Nazir Tarar in the Senate session.
The upper house approved the amendment bill clause by clause.
The Senate approved the law minister’s amendments in the bill.
The House did not allow Senator Mushtaq’s amendments to be tabled.
It may be recalled that the Official Secrets Act Amendment Bill 2023 was stalled in the Upper House on August 3 due to strong protests by government senators.
In today’s Senate meeting, Senator Mushtaq said that there are many controversial clauses in the Official Secrets Act Amendment Bill, in the current state this amendment bill should not be passed.
He said that there are 6 amendments in the Official Secrets Act, military educational institutions have also been included in the Official Secrets Act. Non-state actors were included in the bill.
Senator Kamran Murtaza said that if this bill was so important, why not bring it 15 months ago, who will be the government after that, there is no knowledge.
He said that such extraordinary powers should not be given to institutions, get it right now or you may also be a victim of it.
Senator Nawabzada Umar said that such a bill should not be brought in the Upper House, the current government which is enacting the legislation will fall on their throats, political persons should not enact such legislation.
The government withdrew the Prevention of Violence and Extremism Bill, 2023.
Federal Law Minister Nazir Tarar moved the motion to withdraw the bill, which was approved by the House.
The Law Minister said that this bill was two and a half years old which was prepared by the previous government, the bill is being withdrawn on the special instructions of the Prime Minister, this bill did not come in our current cabinet.
