ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani Cabinet minister on Thursday slammed a proposed bill that would punish criticism of the military with two-year prison terms and hefty fines, saying the legislation drafted by a parliamentary panel was “ridiculous.”
The minister for science and technology, Fawad Chaudhry, who is also a senior leader in the ruling Tehreek-e-Insaf party, took to Twitter to denounce the proposed bill, a day after a special committee of the National Assembly approved it and sent the draft on for presentation in parliament. Opposition lawmakers oppose the bill.
Chaudhry called the idea to criminalize criticism “absolutely ridiculous” and that respect is earned and cannot be imposed on people. He went a step further, saying he strongly feels that existing, decades-old “contempt of court laws should be repealed” instead of going for more such legislation.
It remained unclear when the bill would be formally presented in the National Assembly, the lower house of parliament. It was also unclear whether the military had had a role in drafting it — something Chaudhry said he doubted.
“The army in Pakistan is loved and respected by every Pakistani with a soul,” he wrote.
Activists and Pakistani journalists have also criticized the planned bill, including Mazhar Abbas, who often reports for Pakistan’s independent Geo Television and who tweeted that people apparently were free to criticize the parliament, politicians and the media — but the “rest is national interest.”
According to the draft bill, anyone found guilty of intentionally ridiculing the armed forces by a civilian court would face a two-year sentence, a fine of 500,000 rupees ($3,300), or both prison and the fine.
Pakistan’s military has ruled the country for more than half of its 74-year history since independence from Britain.
Top Pakistani minister slams bill seeking prison for army critics
https://arab.news/64xjw
Top Pakistani minister slams bill seeking prison for army critics
- According to draft bill, anyone found guilty of intentionally ridiculing army would face a two-year sentence, $3,300 fine
- Minister for science and technology Fawad Chaudhry calls idea to criminalize criticism “absolutely ridiculous,” says respect is earned, cannot be imposed
Police kill five militants, foil plan to block highway in Pakistan’s southwest
- The militants were killed in an intelligence-based operation in Mastung district of Balochistan
- Search, combing operations are underway to apprehend accomplices of militants who fled the scene
QUETTA: Pakistan’s counterterrorism police on Monday said they had killed five militants, who were planning to block the Quetta–Sibi highway and target security forces, in an intelligence-based operation in the southwestern Balochistan province.
The operation took place in Mastung district when militants affiliated with the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) were planning to carry out “subversive activities” against security forces and the public, according to a CTD spokesperson.
CTD received credible intelligence that armed BLA militants had taken positions near Mastung’s Dasht area to block the Quetta–Sibi highway and target security forces and civilian traffic. Acting swiftly on the information, CTD teams moved into the area. The militants opened indiscriminate fire upon sighting CTD personnel.
“During the encounter, five unknown terrorists were shot dead, while other accomplices managed to flee, taking advantage of the rugged and mountainous terrain,” the CTD spokesperson said in a statement.
Balochistan, which borders Iran and Afghanistan, has long been the site of a separatist insurgency and witnessed a series of high-profile militant attacks last year. In March, the BLA hijacked a passenger train and the siege killed at least 60 people, while in May, a suicide bombing in Khuzdar killed several children on a school bus.
The separatists accuse the central government of stealing their resources to fund development in Punjab. The federal government denies the allegations and says it is working for the uplift of local communities in Balochistan, where China has been building a deep-sea port as part of its Belt and Road Initiative.
Officials found seven hand grenades, five sub-machine guns with live rounds and three motorcycles from the scene, according to the CTD statement.
“Search and combing operations are underway to apprehend the fleeing terrorists and dismantle the remaining network,” it read.
