President Dr Arif Alvi has claimed that he never signed the Official Secrets (amendment) 2023 bill and the Pakistan Army Act (amendment) 2023 bill into laws and that his staff defied him, flouting his instructions about sending the two pieces of legislation back to the Parliament.

In a statement, he said he never agreed to the contents of amendments and did not sign the bills. He had instructed his staff to send the two laws back to the Parliament, said the president.

It was widely reported in Pakistan media on Saturday that President Alvi had signed the two bills despite sending over a dozen other bills back to the Parliament.

The claim by the president is unprecedented.

Alvi said he had confirmed from his staff that the bills had been sent back to the parliament.

The president said that he offers apologies to the people who would be affected by the approval of the bills.

In the statement which he also posted to X, formerly Twitter, Alvi said, “As God is my witness, I did not sign Official Secrets Amendment Bill 2023 & Pakistan Army Amendment Bill 2023 as I disagreed with these laws. I asked my staff to return the bills unsigned within stipulated time to make them ineffective. I confirmed from them many times that whether they have been returned & was assured that they were. However I have found out today that my staff undermined my will and command. As Allah knows all, He will forgive IA. But I ask forgiveness from those who will be effected.”

Ministry of Law and Justice states Alvi discredited his own officials

The Ministry of Law and Justice showed concerns over the president’s recent tweet.

As per Article 75 of the Constitution, when a bill is sent for assent, the president has two options; either give assent, or refer the matter to the parliament with specific observations, the ministry said in a statement.

Article 75 does not provide for any third option. In the instant matter, neither of the requirements was fulfilled. Instead, the president purposely delayed the assent, it added.

The ministry further said that returning the bills without any observations or assent is not provided for in the Constitution. Such a course of action is against the letter and spirit of the constitution, it said.

“If the President had any observations, he could have returned the bills with his observations like he did in the recent and distant past. He could have also issued a press release to that effect,” the ministry remarked.

It is a matter of concern that the president has chosen to discredit his own officials, the ministry said, adding that the president should take responsibility for his own actions.

More to follow.