The Senate of Pakistan sent a bill proposing amendments to the Official Secrets Act to the committee after fierce reaction from opposition members.
The bill was hurried through the National Assembly on Tuesday, the latest in a series of legislations that have bee summarily passed by the house.
However, the bill did not have a smooth sailing in the Senate whose members have recently complained of the upper house being turned into a ‘rubber stamp’ body.
The law was supposed to be presented by Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah but was presented by Law Minister Azam Tarar in his absence.
The amendments to the bill empowered intelligence agencies to search any premises and detain any person without warrants.
The bill states that anyone acting in a manner to disturb public order, safety, national interests or Pakistan’s defence; or intentionally reveals the identity of undisclosed intelligence agency members, informants, or their sources is committing an offence.
It proposes imprisonment for a term of up to three years and a fine extending to Rs10 million as punishment for the crime.
