ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's upper house of parliament, the Senate, on Thursday approved amendments to the Pakistan Army Act, 1952, one of which proposes a five-year punishment for any person found guilty of disclosing unauthorized information about Pakistan's security or the armed forces.
The development takes place a week after Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency formed a joint investigation team against former Prime Minister Imran Khan for “prejudicing” national security and the interests of the state, accusing him of exposing official secrets in what has widely come to be known as the 'cipher case.'
The saga is related to alleged diplomatic correspondence between Washington and Islamabad, which Khan has said was part of a US conspiracy to topple his government. Washington denies the charges.
Last Wednesday, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said Khan would face criminal proceedings under the Official Secrets Act, alleging that his ex-principal secretary had admitted the former prime minister leaked the correspondence last year to create a false narrative to serve his political goals.
The proposed amendments to the Army Act, 1952, were presented by Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif during a session of the upper house on Thursday.
"If any person, who is or has been subject to this act, discloses or causes to be disclosed any information, acquired in an official capacity, which is or may be prejudicial to the security and interest of Pakistan or the Armed Forces of Pakistan, shall be guilty of an offense, and on conviction by the court constituted under this Act, be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years," a copy of the bill seen by Arab News states.
The bill, however, said any person who discloses such information after seeking authorization from the army chief or an authorized military official, will not be considered guilty of the offense.
The legislation also proposed barring any person subject to the Army Act from engaging in any political activity for two years from the date of their “retirement, release, resignation, discharge, removal or dismissal from service.”
While those employed, seconded, tasked, or otherwise attached to sensitive duties under the act would be barred from political activities for five years after they leave their posts, it added.
"Whoever violates [the conditions] on conviction by the court constituted under this Act, would be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term, which may extend to two years.”
The legislation said action would also be taken against those involved in defaming the military, adding that they would be punished under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016, or the relevant electronic, digital, and social media laws.
"A personnel who is or has been subject to this act intentionally ridicules, scandalizes, brings into hatred or otherwise attempts to lower the Armed Forces of Pakistan or any part thereof in the estimation of others shall, on conviction by a court constituted under this act, in the prescribed manner, be punished with imprisonment which may extend to two years or fine or with both."
Pakistan's government has tightened the noose around Khan and his supporters after his increased criticism of the military since his ouster from office in April 2022, and particularly after the violent, nationwide protests of May 9 when angry Khan supporters torched military installations and damaged government buildings in response to his brief arrest.
The army vowed to try protesters under military courts established under the Army Act, 1952, under which civilians accused of offenses such as waging war against the armed forces or law enforcement agencies, attacking military installations, or inciting mutiny, can also be tried by military courts under a federal government order.
Pakistan's military has held sway over the country since its independence in 1947 and has been in power for three of the past seven decades, and has wielded considerable influence even with civilian governments in office.
