By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s opposition party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has launched an inquiry into its own senators over their role in passing controversial amendments to the army act, which critics say gives too much power to the military and curbs free speech.
The PTI said on Saturday that party chief and former prime minister Imran Khan had ordered a probe into whether any of its members had deviated from the party policy while voting for the amendments in the upper house of parliament earlier this week.
Khan also issued show-cause notices to several PTI lawmakers who voted against the party policy in supporting the replacement of the opposition leader in the Sindh Assembly, a move seen as a sign of a tacit understanding between the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P).
The amendments, which were approved by both houses and awaiting presidential assent, propose up to five years in jail for anyone who discloses sensitive information related to national security or the army, and bar retired military personnel from engaging in political activity or working for entities with a conflict of interest for up to five years.
They also allow the army chief to delegate any of his powers to his subordinates, and state that the army act will override any other law that is inconsistent with it.
The PTI said in a statement that a one-member commission headed by Senator Shibli Faraz would investigate the matter and present its findings to Khan, who would then decide on further action against those found guilty of violating the party line.
“Further action would be taken against those found to have deviated from the party policy,” the statement said.
The statement added that the PTI also discussed the overall political situation of the country and its strategy for the upcoming elections in the meeting chaired by Khan.
The amendments have drawn criticism from opposition parties, rights groups, and media watchdogs, who say they undermine civilian supremacy, stifle dissent, and violate international standards of freedom of expression.
The army, which has ruled Pakistan for nearly half of its 74-year history, wields considerable influence over politics and security matters. It denies meddling in civilian affairs.
Separately, the party issued show-cause notices to eight PTI lawmakers from Sindh, asking them to explain why they voted for MQM-P’s Rana Ansar as the new leader of the opposition in the provincial assembly earlier this week.
Ansar became the first-ever woman leader of the opposition in Sindh after PTI’s Haleem Adil Sheikh was removed from the post by the speaker.
The decision was seen as a result of a consensus between the PPP and MQM-P, which are allay at the national level and have also cooperated in Sindh to finalise a caretaker chief minister for the province.
“If your reply is unsatisfactory or you do not respond, further action will be taken as per party policy and rules,” the notices read.
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