President Arif Alvi of Pakistan denied on Sunday, August 20, 2023, that he had signed the bills amending the Official Secrets Act and the Pakistan Army Act into law. He tweeted that he had not signed the bills and that his staff had “undermined my will and command” by giving consent to them.
The bills were passed by the National Assembly and the Senate earlier this month. They give the government sweeping powers to censor information and restrict freedom of speech. The amendments have been criticized by human rights groups and opposition politicians, who say they will stifle dissent and make it harder to hold the government accountable.
President Alvi’s denial has raised questions about who is responsible for signing the bills into law. The Constitution of Pakistan states that the president has the power to “assent to, or withhold assent from, a Bill”. However, it needs to be made clear whether the president’s staff can legally sign bills on his behalf.
The matter is likely to be resolved by the courts. The Supreme Court of Pakistan has already taken suo motu notice of the amendments to the Official Secrets Act and the Pakistan Army Act. The court is expected to rule on the legality of the amendments in the coming weeks.
In the meantime, the controversy over the bills has further polarized Pakistani politics. The opposition has accused the government of trying to suppress dissent and silence its critics. The government has defended the amendments, saying they are necessary to protect national security.
The outcome of the Supreme Court’s ruling on the amendments is likely to have a significant impact on the future of democracy in Pakistan.
Pl subscribe the YouTube channel of republicpolicy.com
