ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly today [July 4] adopted two Bills… . The Bills are the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill and the Evacuee Property and Displaced Persons Laws (Amendment) Bill. The Opposition to these Bills came mainly from the rebel group of the Pakistan People’s Party. They, however, had an easy passage.

Piloting the Bill to amend the Army Act 1952, the Minister Without Portfolio, Mr. Khurshid Hasan Meer said … this amending Bill, which had earlier been issued in the form of an ordinance, removed a technical defect about the definition of the commanding officer. The Bill was opposed during the third reading. The critics said that the Army investigating agencies should not be allowed to make inroads into the sphere of civil laws and procedures. Replying, Mr. Meer dispelled these fears and maintained that this was not the purpose of the amending Bill.

Earlier, Maulana Abdul Huq (JUI-Peshawar) withdrew his privilege motion against the Interior Minister. The privilege motion had sought to raise discussion on the wrong reply given by the Interior Minister about banning of the Freemason movement and confiscation of the property owned by the Freemasons.

Published in Dawn, July 5th, 2023