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 calls for new global cricket body, says ICC ‘hostage to Indian politics’
- Pakistan’s government has barred its team from playing against India in World Cup fixture on Feb.15
- India generates largest share of cricket’s commercial revenue, enjoying overarching influence in the sport
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif called for a new global cricket governing body on Tuesday, saying that the International Cricket Council (ICC) has become hostage to Indian political interests amid a fresh row between the neighbors ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026.
Pakistan’s government announced earlier this week that it has cleared its national men’s team to play the upcoming World Cup, scheduled to be held in India and Sri Lanka from Feb. 7. However, Islamabad said the national team will boycott its upcoming fixture against India on Feb. 15 without mentioning a reason. The ICC responded by saying that Pakistan’s decision was “not in the interest of the global game or the welfare of fans worldwide, including millions in Pakistan.”
Pakistan’s dispute with the ICC can be traced back to it expressing displeasure recently at the cricket body’s decision to replace Bangladesh with Scotland for the World Cup. Bangladesh had requested the global governing body shift its matches to any another venue outside India owing to security concerns, as political tensions surge Delhi and Dhaka surge.
“A new international organization of cricket is needed to keep the spirit of the gentleman’s game alive,” Asif wrote on social media platform X. “ICC has become hostage to Indian political interests in South Asia.”
India generates the largest share of cricket’s commercial revenue and hence enjoys overarching influence over the sport. Critics argue that this financial contribution translates into decisive leverage within the ICC.
A large part of that revenue comes from the Indian Premier League (IPL), the sport’s most lucrative T20 cricket competition, which is run by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Between 2024 and 2027, the IPL is projected to earn $1.15 billion, nearly 39 percent of the ICC’s total annual revenue, according to international media reports.
The ICC is headed by Jay Shah, the son of Indian Home Minister Amit Shah. The ICC chair is expected to be independent from any cricket board and hence take impartial decisions.
India and Pakistan engaged in a military confrontation that lasted for four days in May last year before Washington brokered a ceasefire. Militaries of the two countries pounded each other with drones, missiles, fighter jets and exchanged artillery fire in what was the worst fighting between them since 1999.
These bilateral tensions have made their way to cricket, with India refusing to shake hands with Pakistani cricketers during the September 2025 Asia Cup tournament between both sides. The two teams met for three matches, all of which India won, and did not shake hands before or after the fixtures.
The two countries have not played a full bilateral series since 2012–13 due to political tensions. They meet largely at neutral venues.
