ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan submitted a petition in the Supreme Court on Saturday, requesting the top judiciary to declare two controversial pieces of legislation granting sweeping powers to the country’s military and intelligence agencies as unconstitutional.
The Pakistan Army and Official Secrets (Amendment) Acts, 2023, were passed by both houses of parliament under the administration of ex-premier Shehbaz Sharif and primarily targeted Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, though their content and manner of approval was challenged by prominent lawmakers sitting in the government and the opposition.
The two laws allowed the country’s security and intelligence establishment to raid and detain any citizen and try civilians in military courts.
They were sent to President Arif Alvi, Khan’s close ally, for endorsement. While it was widely reported last month in the media that he had given his nod to the bills and turned them into laws, he denied the information in a social media post wherein he mentioned he had issues with the bills and instructed his staff to return them unsigned.
“The President never assented to the Official Secrets (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill, 2023, rather he disagreed and even in his [social media] post he stated that he confirmed many times from his staff within stipulated time that whether they have been returned [to parliament] and was assured that they were,” said the petition.
“Hence, publication of impugned Official Secrets (Amendment) Act, 2023 and impugned Pakistan Army (Amendment) Act, 2023 in the official gazette contrary to the Constitutional provisions as enunciated under Article 75 of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973, is Un-Constitutional,” it added.
Khan, who is currently facing a prison trial carried out by a special court for mishandling a confidential diplomatic cable for political purposes under the Official Secrets Act, said both pieces of legislation were against the fundamental rights guaranteed by the constitution since they took away the protection of citizen’s freedom, due process, and fair trial.
Several leaders and supporters of Khan’s PTI party faced the threat of being tried in military courts after their arrest in the wake of violent protests on May 9 when the former PM was briefly detained on graft charges in Islamabad.
The top PTI leader, who was arrested on corruption allegations in the beginning of August, has also been in a high-security jail, with his legal team trying to secure his bail and bring him out of prison.
Ex-PM Khan files Supreme Court appeal against laws granting sweeping powers to Pakistan army
https://arab.news/5fa5r
Ex-PM Khan files Supreme Court appeal against laws granting sweeping powers to Pakistan army
- The ex-premier says the president never gave approval to the Pakistan Army and Official Secrets Acts
- His petition calls the laws against fundamental rights, saying they deprive citizens of due process, fair trial
Pakistan launches first Hong Kong Convention-certified ship recycling yard
- Hong Kong International Convention aims to improve hazardous working conditions in ship recycling facilities worldwide
- Maritime affairs minister says certification reflects Islamabad’s efforts in implementing global environmental standards
ISLAMABAD: Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry inaugurated Pakistan’s first ship recycling facility certified by the Hong Kong International Convention on Wednesday, saying the move would help Islamabad meet global benchmarks in environmentally friendly ship recycling.
Pakistan became a party to the 2009 Hong Kong Convention in December 2023, which aims to improve hazardous working conditions in ship recycling facilities worldwide. The ship recycling industry in Pakistan and globally faces pressure from calls to adopt safer and cleaner methods.
Shipbreaking is a significant industry in Pakistan, particularly in the coastal town of Gadani in southwestern Balochistan, which was once one of the world’s largest ship recycling hubs. However, business has declined in recent years as Islamabad grapples with a macroeconomic crisis.
Chaudhry inaugurated the Prime Green Recycling Yard in Gadani during a ceremony. He highlighted that the certification demonstrated Pakistan’s alignment with international maritime and environmental standards in a sector long criticized for hazardous working conditions.
“The success of the Prime Green Recycling Yard is a matter of national pride and a clear signal that Pakistan is meeting global benchmarks for environmentally friendly ship recycling,” the Maritime Affairs Ministry quoted him as saying.
“Pakistan is emerging as a responsible country in the global ship recycling industry.”
The statement highlighted that the government was working to modernize the Gadani Ship Recycling Zone, focusing on infrastructure upgrades, regulatory reforms, and improved oversight.
It added that worker safety would remain a top priority as the industry transitions to cleaner and safer methods.
Chaudhry said modernizing the ship recycling sector could create thousands of jobs and conserve foreign exchange by providing locally sourced steel and materials.
“With a responsible and sustainable approach, ship recycling can become a major contributor to economic growth,” he said.
“It will reduce dependence on imports and strengthen Pakistan’s industrial base.”
Pakistan’s maritime sector, anchored by its long coastline and strategic ports such as Karachi, Port Qasim, and Gwadar, holds vast potential for the blue economy. However, it remains underutilized due to infrastructure gaps, policy inconsistencies, and limited shipping capacity.
