The National Assembly approved the Official Secrets (Amendment) Bill 2023 following the Senate’s endorsement. This move came shortly after contentious provisions within the bill were addressed and revised.
Initially, the bill contained controversial clauses that faced criticism from various parliament members. This led to the bill’s referral to the Senate’s standing committee. However, after the coalition government addressed and rectified these concerns, the Senate approved it on Sunday.
A notable change was removing a provision that would have granted intelligence agencies the authority to conduct raids or apprehend individuals without a warrant. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar highlighted this modification during his Senate presentation, reiterating that the clause had been withdrawn completely.
Furthermore, the revised bill now entrusts the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) with the responsibility to probe any suspected breaches of the Official Secrets Act. The minister also accentuated the inclusion of the term ‘knowingly’ in a clause. This addition was meant to offer clarity and prevent potential misuse.
Minister Tarar clarified that most objections, especially those about warrantless arrests, had been addressed in the updated version. He urged an unbiased review of the legislation, highlighting its intent to safeguard military personnel and intelligence officers in challenging regions.
A slew of New Legislation
Amidst these proceedings, the National Assembly witnessed a flurry of legislative activity, passing numerous bills. The PIA Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and Higher Education Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2023 were notable.
Delving into the Higher Education Commission Bill, Law Minister Tarar discussed the inclusion of the secretary of education to represent regions without a provincial Higher Education Commission (HEC). Furthermore, the incorporation of an expert from each of the four provinces was confirmed.
Other bills that gained approval included the Federal Urdu University Arts Sciences, Technology (Amendment) Bill 2023, National Commission for Minorities Bill 2023, Federal Public Service Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2023, and Price Control and Prevention of Unjustified Profiteering Amendment Bill, 2023.
The minority bill, in particular, saw unanimous approval, thanks to the law minister’s efforts to address concerns and achieve a consensus among the minority members.
With the day’s proceedings concluded the National Assembly session is set to reconvene tomorrow at 5 pm.
 Bill 2023 following key revisions. The day also saw approval of various other bills, signifying a proactive legislative session.){kind=link}